SHORE BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA — GILPIN. 379 
colour of body,size and colour of legs,and not having semi-palmated 
feet. In colour it was white below, and pale bluish ash above, 
with no brown or olive tint. The signs of black or of ring about 
the neck were very slight, and light dusky. The middle tail 
feathers were black, tipped white at the end, and there was a 
white stripe through primaries, secondaries and tertiaries. The 
bill and feet black and shorter than in the true ring plover, and 
the whole bird smaller. On searching for these birds I found 
they went by themselves, were scarcer, and hard to get. I have 
classed them, with some doubts, with the charadius melodus of 
Nuttall and Wilson, and Agialitis melodus, Coues, thinking the 
difference of leg,bill and colour were from imperfect or young birds. 
We may generally conclude that the semi-palmated variety is 
very common, and individually found in brightest colour of olive 
brown, yellow feet and red ring about the eye; that he always 
assorts with the peeps; is found at high water, emarginating the 
shores, waiting for the ebb to bare the flats, over which he 
spreads himself; and that he appears sparingly in July, numer- 
ously in August, and leaves in September. Of the second spe- 
cies you think them plenty; but searching for them, you find 
them scarce—though found in company with the peeps. All 
these birds have doubtless lived at the north, and are passing 
our shores with their females and young. As I saw a few breed- 
ing on Sable Island with the peeps and terns, though not deter- 
mining their species, I think that increasing population, and not 
choice, may send them so far north. All due allowance must be 
made for imperfect moult and young birds. 
After writing a description of these Fall birds I have had an 
opportunity of examining three specimens of this plover, Egiali- 
tis melodus (Coues), shot April 24th, 1882, at Digby, N. S., and 
in full nuptial plumage. Mr. Downs also has a group of the 
adult birds and young, shot near Halifax, proving that it breeds 
with us, though the greater numbers that appear in Fall must 
prove it also to be migratory. 
Extreme length, 6 6-10 inch. 
Wing spread, 14 inch. 
Length of bill, $ inch. 
Length of tarsus, 7-10 inch. 
