PLOVERS 185 



Plover. In migration they fly in much the same manner, with 

 extended and broadside and triangular lines and clusters sim- 

 ilar to those of Ducks and Geese at such times. They usually 

 fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, appar- 

 ently looking it over, generally standing motionless for quite 

 a while after alighting, which, owing to their general color 

 approximating so closely to the withered grass, renders it diffi- 

 cult at times to perceive them. 



The only note I ever heard them make is a kind of squeak, 

 very much like one of the cries of Wilson's Tern (Sterna hir- 

 tmdoj, only finer in tone". Of the eggs Dr. Coues writes: — 

 "This species breeds in great numbers in the Anderson River 

 Region, usually making up its nest complement of four eggs 

 by the third week in June. The nest is generally in an open 

 plain, and is a mere depression of the ground, lined with a few 

 dried leaves or grasses. 



The eggs vary to the great extent usually witnessed among 

 waders. The ground color is olive drab, tending to either 

 green, gray or brown in different instances. The markings, 

 always large, numerous and bold, are of different depths of 

 dark chocolate, bistre and sepia-brown, with ordinary stone 

 gray shell spots. They always tend to aggregate at the larger 

 end, or at least, are more numerous on the major half of the 

 eggs; though in a few instances the distribution is nearly 

 uniform. Occasionally the butt end of the egg is almost com- 

 pletely occupied by confluence of very dark markings. Eggs 

 vary from 1.90 x 1.40 to 2.12 x 1.33, averaging about 2.00 x 

 1.45 (Birds of the Northwest). 



Family CHARADRIID^. Plovers. 

 Key to the species of CHARADRIID^. 



A. Toes four. Black-bellied Plover. 



B. Toes three. 



1. Wing over 5.50. 



