334 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



Plovers. 



The Plovers, family Charadriidce, form a large family of 

 shore birds, many of the members of which, however, are not 

 by any means confined to the shore. The bill usually is short, 

 never longer than the head, and resembles that of a Pigeon. 

 The body is plump and well rounded, neither depressed as in 

 the Phalaropes nor compressed as in the Rails. The legs are 

 medium in length and the feet partially webbed. The hind 

 toe is wanting usually, but not always. Some species are 

 crested but those of North America are not. The members of 

 this family run and fly very rapidly, and the voice is usually a 

 mellow whistle. The sexes generally are similar in form and 

 color, but there are great changes with age and season in many 

 species. Often the young are so dissimilar in color to the adult 

 birds that they commonly are regarded as different species. 



Five species of plover once were abundant here, — two 

 breeding commonly, one on the coast and the other mainly in the 

 interior. It is a sad commentary on the destructive tendencies 

 of the American people that only two are common here now, 

 and those only in migration, and that already we have come 

 very near exterminating the breeding species, which, however, 

 are now protected by law at all times in Massachusetts. These 

 beautiful dove-like birds are so attractive and interesting that 

 they should be protected throughout the summer months and 

 allowed to roam unmolested on beach, marsh, meadow and 

 upland. Such protection would save those which normally 

 breed here and would give the people a chance to become 

 acquainted with the migrating species which would swarm here 

 in the summer months if the State could be made a safe place 

 for them to rest in. Birds like the Plovers, which commonly 

 lay no more than four eggs in a season and rear but one brood, 

 cannot stand excessive shooting during a long open season. 

 They have had practically no protection until recent years. 

 If the Plover season were reduced to one month (September) 

 all over the United States, these birds might have some chance 

 to recover their former numbers. If they could be protected 

 and increased they would be valuable to agriculture. 



