45 6 The M^ater-fowl Family 



lish lakes. Here they frequent the upper slopes 

 of the highest mountains, laying their eggs in a 

 small hollow which they form in the moss that 

 covers the ground. As one approaches the 

 breeding-grounds, he will usually see one of the 

 birds fly by, uttering a low, plaintive whistle, and 

 presently notice the other running along the 

 ground, its plumage harmonizing so with the 

 moss as to be practically invisible when not in 

 motion. When flushed from the eggs, the parent 

 will usually run a few steps and then stand silent 

 and motionless; but sometimes it will shuffle 

 along the ground, its tail spread wide, and squeal 

 like a rabbit. 



7ACK-BELLIED PLOVER 

 (Squatarola squatarold) 



Adult male and female in breeding plumage — Around the base of 

 the bill, sides of the face, throat, neck, in front, and breast, 

 reaching well on to the under parts, jet-black; forehead, nape, 

 back of neck widening on the sides to breast, white ; some black 

 feathers in the centre of the crown ; back and scapulars, black, 

 spotted and barred with white ; wing-coverts, ashy brown, simi- 

 larly marked ; greater coverts, ashy brown, edged with white ; 

 under wing-coverts, white ; axillary plumes, black ; rump, brown, 

 edged with white ; upper tail-coverts, white, irregularly barred 

 with brownish black ; tail, white, barred with brownish black ; 

 vent and under tail-coverts, white ; bill, black ; legs and feet, 

 plumbeous ; hind toe present. 



Adjdt plumage in fall and winter — Upper parts, dark brown, 

 with irregular white markings, most numerous on the wing- 

 coverts ; under parts, white, marked occasionally with dark 

 feathers. 



