28 WADING BIRDS. 



denominate the Oyster-Catcher, Melder, and in Iceland, the 

 male is named tilldm', and the female tilldra. Indeed the 

 compass of" voice in a great portion of this tribe of birds, 

 more or less related to the Plovers, is remarkable for its sim- 

 ilarity. The Betel-Headed Plovers, usually linger round the 

 sea coast in the Middle States, till the commencement of No- 

 vember, when the frosts beginning sensibly to diminish their 

 prospect of subsistence, they instinctively move off towards 

 the south, proceeding probably, at this time, under the shade 

 of twilight, as moving flocks are no where, as far as I can 

 learn, seen by day. About the middle of September in the 

 marshes of Chelsea, (Mass.) contiguous to the beach, they 

 sometimes assemble at day break, in flocks of more than a 

 thousand individuals together, and soon after disperse them- 

 selves in companies to feed on the shores, upon small shell-fish 

 and marine insects. This crowding instinct, takes place a 

 short time previous to their general migration southward. 



The length of tliis species is about 12 inches, and 23 in alar extent. 

 Winter plumage of both sexes. — Front, throat, abdomen, thighs, 

 and upper tail coverts, white. Eyebrows, fore part of the neck,'sides 

 of the breast and flanks, white, mottled with cinereous and brown- 

 ish spots. Upper parts of a blackish brown, varied with spots of 

 greenish yellow, but all the feathers fringed with cinereous and whit- 

 ish. Long axillary feathers, deep brownish black. Lower tail coverts 

 with narrow diagonal dusky bands upon their outer barbs. Tail 

 white, but somewhat rufous towards the extremity, marked with a 

 few pale dusky bands on the lateral feathers. Bill, legs, and iris 

 black. Hind toe very small, armed with a minute nail. Bill longer 

 and stouter than in the Golden Plover. — Spring and breeding plum- 

 age of both sexes. A space between the eye, the bill, throat, sides 

 and forepart of the neck, middle of the breast, belly and flanks, deep 

 brownish-black. The front, a wide band above the eyes, sides of the 

 neck, and of the chest, thighs, and abdomen white ; the nuchal region 

 spotted with brown, black, and white. Hind-head, back, scapulars, 

 and wing coverts dusky, the feathers all broadly terminated with 

 white tips. On the great coverts and scapulars, large white spots. 



