THE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 559 



like that of the Killdeer. It has also a loud, whistling 

 note. 



This bird is found in small numbers along our inland 

 waters. Its home, however, would seem to be more partic- 

 ularly along the sea-coast. Breeding in high, northern lat- 

 itudes, its nidification is so similar to that of our shore-birds 

 in general as scarcely to need particular description. There 

 are four pointed eggs, 1.50X1.25, "pale yellowish green, 

 with a few black lines and irregular patches of brownish-red. " 

 It is generally seen along the sea in small flocks of some 

 half dozen, but sometimes it joins the Sandpipers. 



THE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 



Flying along the lake shore, a flock of nine Black-bellied 

 Plovers {Squataro/a helvetica) alight on the farthest part of 

 the point. They have a gamy, grouse-like look, standing 

 thus at ease on the sand, preening their feathers; and one 

 feels the propriety of their place in classification — next to 

 Partridges and Quails. Nearly cosmopolitan in their distri- 

 bution, they strongly resemble the Golden Plover, but are 

 readily distinguished, even in the distance, by their large 

 head — giving them the name Bull-head — and by their stout 

 bodies; when taken in the hand, they are found also to have 

 a rudimentary hind toe, thus differing from all the rest of 

 the Plovers. 



Nearly a foot long, and more than two feet in extent, 

 this bird presents a rather imposing appearance for one of 

 its kind. When in full summer plumage, the upper parts 

 are variegated with black, yellowish-brown and white; the 

 wings are deep dusky, w^ith white markings; the tail white, 

 crossed with blackish; cheeks, throat, fore-neck, breast and 

 lining of the wings, jet-black; about the head and neck, ele- 

 gantly bordered with chalk- white. They are then a strikingly 



