SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 87 



and it is mainly the small boy, the natural en- 

 emy of all living creatures, who decimates their 

 ranks. 



The two common species are often found in 

 one flock, but with us and in most localities the 

 most numerous race is the Semipalmated, 

 marked as follows: bill short and stout, black 

 with orange-yellow base; forehead prominent, 

 rising sharply from the bill as in others of the 

 tribe; above, a dark brownish gray, matching 

 well ''the ribbed sea sand," their home. It 

 is astonishing how well this protective color- 

 ing hides them when by accident they are still 

 for a moment. Below pure white. Throat 

 white, the lower part of this patch passing com- 

 pletely around the neck in a narrow ring. 

 Below this a wide black collar entirely 

 around the neck. A j^atch of black at the 

 base of the bill, running back below the eye 

 and bordering the white forehead, which is 

 again sharply defined by the black of the crown. 

 A ring of bright orange about* the eye. Prima- 

 ries blackish. Tail same color as the back, 

 but growing darker toward the ends of the 

 feathers ; tips white, as are also the outer pairs 



