PLOVERS. 63 



In September it is common on our marshes and 

 damp meadows, being much pursued as a game 

 bird. Its breeding place is the barren grounds 

 of the desolate Northern Regions. 



The Ring - neck Plover is a smaller and much 

 more abundant bird. It is the first to return 

 from the North, becoming common in August. 

 Indeed, some few individuals nest here, about 

 lonely shores and islands. I have seen them in 

 breeding time at St. Peter's Island. The color 

 is dark ashy - brown with a black ring on the 

 breast. It nests in a grassy spot on the marsh 

 and lays four speckled grey eggs. 



The Pale Ring - neck is a very light - colored 

 Plover that may be seen any time during summer 

 on the sea - piled shingle beach in front of a salt 

 marsh. Here the bird is constantly running about 

 for insects on which it feeds, and, when disturbed, 

 uttering a peculiarly sad wailing cry which is 

 more than usually consonant with the grandeur 

 and solitariness of the scenes which it frequents. 

 The ceaseless voice of the deep, the grand soli- 

 tude of the shore, the ever restless buffeting wind 

 find a strange accompaniment in this sad, wail- 

 ing voice running through the discord of nature. 



