SHORE BIRDS 



PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIID^ 



Plovers are stouter built birds than those of 

 the previous family, have larger head, shorter 

 necks and but three toes, the bill also is much 

 harder and shorter. 



[269.] Lapwing. Vnnellus vanellus. 



An abundant European species accidentally 

 occurring on the Atlantic coast. It may read- 

 ily be recognized by its long black crest, black 

 chin and throat, and white under parts. It 

 breeds throughout temperate Europe, laying 

 its eggs in hollows on the ground. The eggs 

 have a dark grayish buff ground and are spot- 

 ted with black. Size 1.85 x 1.30. 



Gi-ayish. 



[269-1-] Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus. 



A European bird supposed to have been accidentally taken on the Atlantic 

 coast. 



Jt. h 



'270. Black-bellied Plover. Squatai-ola squaiarola. 



Range.- — Northern Hemisphere, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering 

 from the Gulf States to northern South America. 



This is a remarkably handsome spe- 

 cies when in the summer dress. The up- 

 per parts are largely white with black 

 spots and bars on the back, wings and 

 tail; the throat, sides of head, breast 

 and fore under parts, black. In winter, 

 brownish-black, somewhat mottled, above; 

 below, dull white. Young similar to win- 

 ter adults, but the back is spotted with 

 yellowish-white. While these handsome 

 plover migrate to some extent, and some- 

 times in large flocks, through the inter- 

 ior of the United States, they are chiefly 

 and most abundantly found on the coast. 

 This species has a very small hind toe. 

 It is a very familiar bird to sportsmen 

 and gunners, to whom it is generally known by the names of "Bull-head," or 

 ■'Beetle-head Plover."" They are very numerous in the fall, during which sea- 

 son the underparts are entirely white. The eggs are either laid upon the bare 

 ground or upon a slight lining of grasses of dead leaves. They are three or 

 four in number, brownish or greenish buff in color and boldly marked with black. 

 Size 2.00 X 1.40. Data. — Point Barrow, Alaska, June, 1900. Nest a small hollow 

 on side of hillock, lined with dry grass. 



161 



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lireni.sli bull. 



11 



