THE SNOWY PLOVER. 



BOUT one hundred species 

 are comprised in the Plover 

 family, which are distributed 

 throughout the world. 

 Only eight species are 

 found in North America. Their habits 

 in a general way resemble those of the 

 true Snipes, but their much shorter, 

 stouter bills are not fitted for probing, 

 and they obtain their food from the 

 surface of the ground. Probably for 

 this reason several species are so 

 frequently found on the uplands instead 

 of wading about in shallow ponds or 

 the margins of streams. They frequent 

 meadows and sandy tracts, where they 

 run swiftly along the ground in a 

 peculiarly graceful manner. The 

 Plovers are small or medium-sized 

 shore-birds. The Snowy Plover is 

 found chiefly west of the Rocky 

 Mountains, and is a constant resident 

 along the California coast. It nests 

 along the sandy beaches of the ocean. 

 Mr. N. S. Goss found it nesting on the 

 salt plains along the Cimarrion River 

 in the Indian Territory, the northern 

 limits of which extend into south- 

 western Kansas. The birds are de- 

 scribed as being very much lighter in 

 color than those of California. Four 

 eggs are usually laid, in ground color, 

 pale buff or clay color, with blackish- 

 brown markings. Mr. Cory says the 

 nest is a mere depression in the sand. 

 He says also that the Snowy Plover is 



found in winter in many of the Gulf 

 States, and is not uncommon in North- 

 western Florida. 



When the female Snowy Plover is 

 disturbed on the nest she will run over 

 the sand with outstretched wings and 

 distressing gait, and endeavor to lead 

 the trespasser away from it. It some- 

 times utters a peculiar cry, but is 

 usually silent. The food of these birds 

 consists of various minute forms of life. 

 They are similar in actions to the 

 Semipahnated (see July Birds), and 

 fully as silent. Indeed they are rarely 

 heard to utter a note except as the 

 young are approached — when they are 

 very demonstrative — or when suddenly 

 flushed, which, in the nesting season, 

 is a very rare thing, as they prefer to 

 escape by running, dodging, and squat- 

 ting the moment they think they are 

 out of danger, in hopes you will pass 

 without seeing them as the sandy lands 

 they inhabit closely resemble their 

 plumage in color, and says Mr. Goss, 

 you will certainly do so should you 

 look away or fail to go directly to the 

 spot. 



The first discovery of these inter- 

 esting birds east of Great Salt Lake 

 was in June, 1886. A nest was found 

 which contained three eggs, a full set. 

 It was a mere depression worked out in 

 the sand to fit the body. It was with- 

 out lining, and had nothing near to 

 shelter or hide it from view. 



70 



