BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 365 



being at least two inclies more in length. The greater number of those 

 which I have examined have the rudiments of a hind toe; but the 

 character and manners of the Plover are so conspicuous in the bird, as 

 to determine, at the first glance, the tribe it belongs to. They continue 

 about the seacoast until early in November, when they move off to the 

 south. 



This same bird, Mr. Pennant informs us, inhabits all the north of 

 Europe, Iceland, Greenland, a. 1 Hudson's Bay, and all the arctic part 

 of Siberia. It is said, that at Hudson's Bay it is called the Hawk's- 

 eye, on account of its brilliancy. It appears, says the same author, in 

 Greenland in the spring, about the southern lakes, and feeds on Avorms 

 and berries of the heath. 



This species is twelve inches long, and twenty-four inches in extent ; 

 the bill is thick, deeply grooved on the upper mandible an inch and a 

 quarter in length, and of a black color ; the head and globe of the eye 

 are both remarkably large, the latter deep bluish black ; forehead white ; 

 crown and hind-head black, spotted with golden yellow ; back and sca- 

 pulars dusky, sprinkled with the same golden or orange colored spots, 

 mixed with others of white ; breast, belly and vent black ; sides of the 

 breast whitish ; wing quills black, middle of the shafts white ; greater 

 coverts black, tipped with white ; lining of the wing black ; tail regu- 

 larly barred with blackish and pure white ; tail-coverts pure white ; 

 legs and feet a dusky lead color ; the exterior toe joined to the middle 

 by a broad membrane ; hind toe very small. 



From the length of time which these birds take to acquire their full 

 colors, they are found in very various stages of plumage. The breast 

 and belly are at first white, gradually appear mottled with black, and_ 

 finally become totally black. The spots of orange, or golden, on the 

 crown, hind-head and back, are at first white, and sometimes even the 

 breast itself is marked with these spots, mingled among the black. In 

 every stage, the seemingly disproportionate size of the head, and thick- 

 ness of the bill, will distinguish this species. 



Note. — Mr. Ord furnishes the following additional information re- 

 specting this species in his reprint of the seventh volume of Wilson. 



An adult male, shot the 26th of April, near Philadelphia, measured 

 eleven inches in length ; space between the eye and bill, and cheeks, 

 black ; throat, and thence down the breast and belly, as far as the 

 thighs, black, with white intermixed ; front pure white, which extends 

 in a narrow line over the eyes, bordering the black of the neck, as far as 

 the breast ; crown, and thence down the back part of the neck, brown 

 and white ; upper parts, with wing-coverts, banded with white and 

 black, with some ashy brown feathers interspersed, the whole presenting 

 an irregularly spotted appearance — the back, scapulars and tertials with 



