458 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



(Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, I, p. 137). "It is probable 

 that . . . [the] parents relieve each other during the process of incu- 

 bation, as a male bird was snared on one of the nests" (MacFarlane, 

 loe. eit.). 



The food of the Black-bellied Plover comprises small moUusks, 

 earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, cutworms and grubs (For- 

 bush, 1912, p. 339; and authors). On the northern tundras in late 

 summer berries are eaten. The stomach of a bird taken on Bay Farm 

 Island, Alameda County, September 26, 1914, contained fourteen 

 small snails, one small bivalve mollusk, and parts of two or more small 

 crabs {Hcmigrapsus oregonensis) . 



When inland and feeding on earthworms and terrestrial or fresh- 

 water insects the flesh of the Black-bellied Plover is fairly palatable, 

 but along the seaeoast it partakes of the strong taste common to sea- 

 faring birds. The weight of a female taken in Alameda County on 

 September 26, 1914, was eight ounces. Tlie species is prized for the 

 difficulty connected with obtaining a fair-sized bag rather than for 

 the quality of its flesh, which is of distinctly second class. In conse- 

 quence of its extreme wariness and failure to decoy to the calls of 

 wounded companions as do many other species, the Black-bellied 

 Plover has suffered a smaller diminution in numbers than have many 

 other shore birds. Its extreme northern breeding range, undisturbed 

 by man, is an added factor in its favor. We can therefore reasonably 

 expect that it will long remain a prominent member of our avifauna. 

 But we should be prepared to afford it appropriate protection in case 

 it begins to lose markedly in its contention against adverse conditions. 



American Golden Plover 

 Charadrius dominicus dominicus Miiller 



Other names — Bull-head, part; Charadrius virginiacus ; PhiviaJis virf/iniara. 



Description — Adult male, in late spring and summer: Top and back of head 

 and hind neck, black, with a sprinkling of golden yellow and white spots; 

 band across forehead, continuing back over eye and down side of neck to 

 expand on side of body near bend of wing, conspicuously white; extreme fore- 

 head, sides of head, chin, and throat, continuously black; bill black; iris dark 

 brown (Sennett, MS) ; feathers of back, rump, upper tail coverts, and most of 

 wing coverts, black, with marginal spots of golden yellow and white; tail 

 barred with dark and light brown or whitish ; outer surface of closed wing, 

 mixed dull brown and white, except for scattering new feathers like back; 

 flight feathers blackish brown, outer ones with shafts white toward tips; 

 whole under surface of wing and axillars, light ashy brown, unbarred; whole 

 under surface of body from chin to lower tail coverts continuously black, often 

 with more or less mixture of white; sides of breast just behind white area, 

 mixed black, white and golden yellow; feet "bluish-grey" (Audubon. 1842, V, 

 p. 206). Adult female, in spring and summer: Like adult male at same seasons 



