RINGED PLOVER. ^'J 



occur regularly elsewhere in America, though one example has 

 been taken at Great Slave Lake ; but it is found throughout Europe, 

 and ranges over northern Asia to Bering's Straits. It is met with 

 throughout the entire year in England, breeding as far south as 

 Kent and Sussex, and ranges north to lat. 80° 45', and south (in 

 winter) to the shores of Africa. 



Seebohm thinks that the bird found nesting in the British 

 Islands is a larger and lighter-colored race, laying a larger egg; 

 and he proposes to make it a sub-species and name it Jiiatiuila 

 major. 



Like others of the family, the Ringed Plover feeds on small thin- 

 shelled crustaceans, such as shrimps, etc., and sea-worms, as well 

 as on insects, which it catches with much adroitness; and with its 

 food it mingles small pebbles and particles of sand to aid digestion. 



The usual note of this bird is a melodious whistle ; but the call- 

 note is harsh, while the cry of alarm, though noisy, is rather plain- 

 tive. This last note has been written pew-y-et and too-it. The 

 male, however, uses a distinct call-note during the mating-season. 

 It is the same note as the usual call, but repeated so rapidly it forms 

 a trill, and it is also delivered in more liquid tones. 



This Plover is described by Seebohm as a wild, wary bird when 

 feeding in its winter-quarters, but quite the opposite when on its 

 breeding-grounds in the Far North. It there becomes an unobtru- 

 sive little creature, neither shy nor wary, and rarely displaying more 

 than a shade of anxiety in its actions, — running but a little distance 

 from an intruder, or flying to an adjacent knoll to watch his move- 

 ments ; sometimes squatting close to the sand until almost under 

 one's feet. It runs with great swiftness, pausing now and then, 

 and darting away again. Keeping close to the edge of the water, 

 it follows the receding waves picking up what food may have been 

 stranded, and hastening shoreward as the waves return. 



Note. — A few examples of the Mountain Plover (^Mgialitis 

 montatia) have been taken in Florida. The usual habitat of this 

 species is from the Great Plains westward. 



