SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



ever, its most distinguishing mark when it 

 flies. 



I know of no more interesting shore bird 

 to watch than the stately black-bellied plover, 

 as it runs hither and thither on the sand, dab- 

 bing here and there with its short bill, or 

 standing pensively, slowly folding its great 

 wings after alighting. In the spring one may 

 study all phases of plumage in a single flock, 

 from those in winter dress with pure white 

 breasts and bellies, through the slightly and 

 profusely spotted ones, to those with splendid 

 jet black breasts that contrast well with their 

 white sides and necks. Thus on May 21, 1905, 

 a flock of sixtj^-six of these birds ran by me 

 as I lay concealed on the beach within a hun- 

 dred yards, and I made the following census: 

 nineteen were full black bellies; twenty- 

 seven were in various stages of incomplete- 

 ness; twenty were pale bellies. 



Their whistle is somewhat like that of the 

 piping plover, but is deeper and longer and 

 differs in accent. As a flock flies over, their 

 voices come down as a shower of sweet yet 

 mournful sounds. 



The commonest sandpiper of the beach is 

 the gentle little peep, a term that includes both 



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