BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 163 



and associate with the numerous multitudes then returning from 

 their breeding places in the north. At this season they abound 

 on the plains of Long Island. They have a loud whistling note; 

 often fly at a great height; and are called by many gunners 

 along the coast, the Black-bellied Kildeer. The young of the 

 first year have considerable resemblance to those of the Golden 

 Plover; but may be easily distinguished from this last by the 

 largeness of their head and bill, and in being at least two inches 

 more in length. The greater number of those which I have 

 examined have the rudiments of a hind toe; but the character 

 and manners of the Plover are so conspicious in the bird, as to 

 determine, at the first glance, the tribe it belongs to. They con- 

 tinue about the seacoast until early in November, when they 

 move off to the south. 



This same bird, Mr. Pennant informs us, inhabits all the 

 north of Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and Hudson's Bay, and 

 all the arctic part of Siberia. It is said, that at Hudson's Bay 

 it is called the Hawk's-eye, on account of its brilliancy. It ap- 

 pears, says the same author, in Greenland in the spring, about 

 the southern lakes, and feeds on worms and berries of the heath. 

 This species is twelve inches long, and twenty-four inches in 

 extent; the bill is thick, deeply grooved on the upper mandible 

 an inch and a quarter in length, and of a black colour; the head 

 and globe of the eye are both remarkably large, the latter deep 

 bluish black; forehead white; crown and hind-head black, spot- 

 ted with golden yellow; back and scapulars dusky, sprinkled 

 with the same golden or orange coloured spots, mixed with 

 others of white; breast, belly and vent black; sides of the breast 

 whitish; wing quills black, middle of the shafts white; greater 

 coverts black, tipt with white; lining of the wing black; tail re- 

 gularly barred with blackish and pure white; tail-coverts pure 

 white; legs and feet a dusky lead colour; the exterior toe joined 

 to the middle by a broad membrane; hind toe very small. 



From the length of time which these birds take to acquire 

 their full colours, they are found in very various stages of plu- 

 mage. The breast and belly are at first .white, gradually appear 



