CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN ‘BIRDS. 209 
species on the sands of Brackley beach, Prince Edward Island. 
They were mere holes in the sand or rather fine gravel and broken 
shells and without any lining whatever. The bird and its sur- 
roundings were so much alike that it was only by accident that any 
nests were found. Mr. W. Saunders writes that he has an egg, 
which is probably of this species, from Long Point, Lake Erie, and 
also a young bird, only a few days old, taken on Point Pelee, Lake 
Erie. 
277a. Belted Piping Plover. 
Asgialitis meloda circumcincta’ RipGW. 1874. 
This form is quite common on Sable Island nearly 100 miles east 
of Canso, N.S., and breeds there in numbers every year. The 
writer procured specimens on the island in August, 1898, and saw 
no difference between them and those taken at Indian Head, Sask., 
in 1892. No doubt this is the form mentioned under the head of 
piping plover by Seton in his Birds of Manitoba. This species did 
not reach Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., until May 16th, 1892. In 
three days they were common. Shortly after they dispersed to 
breed, only a few pairs remaining at the lake. I am informed by 
Mr. Dippie that a nest of this species containing four eggs was taken 
at Manitoba House, Manitoba lake, in June, 1895, and that downy 
young have been taken also. 
This species is occasionally taken at Toronto, Ont. All recent 
records belong to this form. (J. H. Fleming.) All the birds seen 
by me in 1905 and 1906 on the former breeding-grounds of the 
piping plover were the belted plover. (W. Saunders.) 
BREEDING NoTes.—On June 19th, 1895, Mr. Oliver Spanner 
found a nest of this species on Birch island near the west shore of 
Lake Manitoba. The nest consisted of a depression in the sand 
lined with bits of drift-weed and contained three eggs, which are 
similar to those of the common piping plover; the ground colour is 
pale buff which is finely spotted with black and purple and gray. 
The eggs average in size 1.25 x 1.00 inches. Both eggs and skin 
of the parent are now in my collection. Mr. Spanner also obtained 
young birds in the down at the same time. He saw several pairs 
of the plovers in company with solitary sandpipers, which were no 
doubt nesting in the vicinity. (Ravzne.) 
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