192 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



Eagle Hill and all but two or three were killed. On September 15th, 1893, 

 Mr. Walter Faxon saw one on Ipswich Beach. On August 24th, 1901, one 

 was shot at Eagle Hill. These are the only recent records I have. 



124 [270] Squatarola squatarola (Linn.). 



Black-bellied Plover ; " Beetle-head " ; " Black-heart " ; " Bull-head " ; 



" Chuckle-head." 



Common transient visitor; May 8 to June 7 (June 25, July 5) ; July 15 to 

 November 10. 



The Black-bellied Plover is the most interesting of all our shore birds, not 

 only on account of its large size and its beautiful and varied plumage, but also 

 from the sweetness and wildness of its call note. 



It is fortunately still a common migrant, although but few remain in com- 

 parison with the hosts of former days. Nuttall,^ writing in 1834, says : "About 

 the middle of September in the marshes of Chelsea [next to Lynn], contiguous 

 to the beach, they sometimes assemble at day break, in flocks of more than a 

 thousand individuals together, and soon after disperse themselves in companies 

 to feed on the shores, upon small shell-fish and marine insects." 



The Black-bellied Plovers are chiefly birds of the beach, although they are 

 sometimes seen at mudholes in the marsh. At high tides they are found on the 

 upper beach on the edge of the sand dunes or in upland pastures. The adults 

 are extremely shy and can rarely be stalked on the beach, although at times 

 they come in well to the decoys, if the sportsman is thoroughly concealed and 

 motionless. The young birds, especially the early arrivals, are more easily 

 approached. 



Black-bellied Plover are generally found in flocks of from two or three up to 

 fifteen or twenty, and I have on rare occasions seen as many as forty together 

 at Ipswich Beach. They fly in scattered flocks, but occasionally in a long line 

 abreast. In alighting, they set their wings and scale down to the sand, raising 

 the wings quickly before folding them. They then separate in plover fashion 

 and spread out over the sands holding their heads high, dabbing quickly at their 

 food, and throwing the feet well out in front as they run. Their usual stride is 

 three or four inches, but I have several times measured tracks that were six 

 inches apart. On the other hand they may walk very leisurely, dragging the 



' Thomas Nuttall : A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada, vol. ;, p. 

 28, 1834. 



