THE PLOVER. 



PLATE XLIV. 



Class Aves. Order Grallae : waders. Genus Chara- 



drius. Species There are eight different species of the 



Plover in the United States. 



The Ring Plover (C. Hiaticula)is very abundant on the low 

 sandy shores of our whole sea-coast, during- the summer. 

 They run, or rather seem to glide, rapidly along the surface of 

 the flat sands ; frequently spreading out their wings and tail 

 like a fan, and fluttering along, to draw or entice one away 

 from their nests. These are formed with little art ; being 

 merely shallow concavities dug in the sand, in which the 

 eggs are laid, and, during the day at least, left to the influ- 

 ence of the sun to hatch them. 



The parents, however, always remain near the spot to pro 

 tect them from injury, and probably in cold, rainy or stormy 

 weather, to shelter them with their bodies. The eggs are 

 three, sometimes four, large for the bird, of a dun clay color, 

 and marked with numerous small spots of reddish purple. 



The voice of these little birds, as they move along the sand, 

 is soft and musical, consisting of a single plaintive note occa- 

 sionly repeated. As you approach near their nests, they seem 

 to court your attention, and the moment they think you observe 

 them, they spread out their wings and tail, dragging them- 

 selves along, and imitating the squeaking of young birds ; if 

 you turn from them they immediately resume their proper 

 posture until they have again caught your eye, when they 

 display the same attempts at deception as before. A flat 

 dry sandy beach, just beyond the reach of the summer tides, 

 is their favorite place for breeding. 



This species is subject to great variety of change in its plu- 

 mage. In the month of July, says Mr. Wilson, I found most 

 of those that were breeding on Summer's Beach, at the mouth 



