BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 13 



SUBGENUS II. SQUATAROLA, CUVIER. 

 198. CIIARADRIUS JIELrSTICUS) BONAPARTE. 



CIIARADRIUS APRICARIUS, WILSON. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 



WILSON', PLATE LVII. FIG. IV. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS bird is known in some parts of the country by 

 the name of the large whistling field plover. It gene- 

 rally makes its first appearance in Pennsylvania late in 

 April; frequents the countries towards the mountains; 

 seems particularly attached to newly ploughed fields, 

 where it forms its nest of a few slight materials, as 

 slightly put together. The female lays four eggs, large 

 for the size of the bird, of a light olive colour dashed 

 with black ; and has frequently two brood in the same 

 season. It is an extremely shy and watchful bird, 

 though clamorous during breeding time. The young 

 are without the black colour on the breast and belly 

 until the second year, and the colours of the plumage 

 above are likewise imperfect till then. They feed on 

 worms, grubs, winged insects, and various kinds of 

 berries, particularly those usually called dew-berries, 

 and are at such times considered exquisite eating. 

 About the beginning of September, they descend with 

 their young to the sea coast, 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 conspi- 

 cuous in the bird, as to determine, at the first glance, 



