THE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 633 
m winter: Without black below (except on axillars)—white instead; fore-necix 
and chest streaked and spotted with dusky; dusky of upperparts lighter; and 
white replaced by pale gray. /mmature: Similar to adult in winter, but head and 
neck streaked and back spotted with yellowish-buff. Length 10.50-12.00 (266.7- 
304.8) ; wing 7.50 (190.5) ; tail 3.00 (76.2) ; bill 1.18 (30) ; tarsus 1.85-(47). 
Recognition Marks.—Killdeer size or larger; black and white in broad de- 
sign, and without distinct yellow above; below black (in summer) or nearly white 
(in winter or young) ; avillaries black at any season. Similar to succeeding spe- 
cies, but larger; bill and head larger; presence of hind toe distinctive. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nest: on the ground. Eggs: 3 
or 4, light or dark buffy olive, heavily speckled and spotted with dark browns or 
blacks. Av. size, 2:04 x 1:43 (51.8 x 36.3). 
General Range.—Nearly cosmopolitan, but chiefly in the northern hemis- 
phere, breeding far north and migrating south in winter; in America to the West 
Indies, Brazil, and Colombia. 
Range in Washington.—Regular during migrations; less common in the 
interior. 
Authorities.—S. /ielvetica (Linn.) Cuy., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. 1858 
p. 698. C&S. B. E. 
Specimens.— Prov. B. E. 
PLOVERS of any sort are not nearly so common with us as they are in 
the interior, especially the Mississippi Valley, or upon the Atlantic Coast. 
Birds of this species, however, occur regularly during the migrations, and 
they even winter sparingly in favored localities on Puget Sound. ‘They fre- 
quent both fresh and salt water, and are more often found on the open sand or 
upon mud-flats than in the marshes or overflowed uplands. Flocks of from 
three or four to a dozen are the rule, but single birds are very likely to be seen 
with flocks of the smaller Sandpipers. The little urchins troop at the heels of 
their larger protector and dog his steps, when one would suppose that he would 
far rather enjoy the company of his ownkind. But the Beetle-head appears to 
accept his responsibility good-naturedly, and it is probable that the schoolboy 
rout and its chosen leader do off great distances together. 
Because of its large size the Beetle-head is a favorite with the gunners. 
It is the wariest of the Plovers and does not often allow an approach within 
gun range; but because of its social disposition it responds readily to decoys, 
and may be shot from well-constructed blinds. The bird has a beautiful liquid 
whistle, we-w-zwe, descending to a lower pitch in the second note, and returning 
with a softer utterance in the last.. On the wing these call-notes are repeated 
after long pauses; and when a bird is at rest, if another of the same species 
alights beside it, the last syllable of the call is passed back and forth between 
the two in lavish courtesy. Like the Nilldeer these Plovers are rather unquiet 
spirits, and their uneasiness increases with nightfall. At this time they shift 
from place to place, calling continually, and they sometimes carry their com- 
plaints far into the night. 
