THE BIRD BOOK 



275. RING PLOVER. JEgialitis hiaticula. 



Range. A European bird that breeds abund- 

 antly in Greenland. It nests in great numbers on 

 the banks of streams 

 and in fields, laying 

 its eggs in hollows on 

 the ground, generally 

 without any lining. 

 Their three or four 

 eggs are practically 

 not distinguishable 

 from those of the Semi- 

 palmated Plover, but 



BufCy. 



larger; siae, 1.40x1.00. The bird, too, is similar, 

 but the toes are not palmated, and the black 

 breast band is wider. 



[276.] LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. 

 JEgialitis dubia. 



An Old World species, accidentally occurring 

 on the Pacific coast. Like the last species, but 

 smaller. The eggs, too, are smaller; size 1.20 



x.85. 



277. PIPING PLOVER. JEgialitis meloda. 



Range. Eastern North America, chiefly along 

 the Atlantic coast, breeding from the Carolinas 

 north to Newfoundland. 



A handsome little bird, with a black crescent 



i on each side of neck, a small black patch on top 



of the head, and without any black on the lores 

 or ear coverts. It is the lightest colored of any 

 of the eastern Plovers. Length, 7 inches. Young, 

 similar, but the black replaced by grayish, as is 



the case with the last species. This species, apparently, never could be classed 



as abundant and of late years, it is becoming rather rare along our Atlantic 



coast; this is probably more due to the building of 



summer resorts and homes along their former breeding 



grounds than to hunters. They are rather more shy 



than the last species, but will usually attempt to es- 

 cape by running along the beach or by hiding, rather 



than by flight. Owing to their light colors it is very 



difficult to see them at any distance. They lay their 



eggs upon the sandy beaches in slight, and generally 



unlined, hollows. The eggs have a pale clay colored 



ground and are sparsely specked with small black 



dots. Size 1.25 X 1.00. Clay Color, 



Ring Plover. 

 Snowy Plover. 



166 



