PLOVERR 175 



Tlis species frequents sandy beaches, mud-flats, and marshes. It 

 is found generally in small flocks of five or ten individuals, which, 

 unlike the Sand Oxeyes, do not feed in a compact body, but run rap- 

 idly alxiiit, inde|K-ndenily of one an<>tlnT. When they take wing, 

 however, they close ranks at once and move as though governed by 

 one desire. 



Their simple, sweet, plaintive call is one of the most characteristic 

 notes heard on our shores. At noonday, when the heat waves are 

 dancing over the marshes and even the twittering Oxeyes are silent, 

 one may hear the roo/, pure notes of this little Plover. They may be 



written -jfcr *-jJ -. A third, shorter note is sometimes added. 



I a whistled imitation of them takes me to the beaches. 



The RINO PLOVER (17~>. .fyinliti* kintii-uln), an OKI-World specie*, 'm 

 found in (ireriiluiid. It in himilur to tin- |>rree.liiiif but slijfhtly laiyt r, tin- 

 black bund <>ii the breast IB wider, and there U no web between the inner and 

 middle toes. 



77. JEg-ialitis meloda ( <>r,l). PHMXO I'LOVKR. Ad. in tvmwrr. 

 \ i'i-T 1-urt.H pale whitish u-hv ; t'.ir. In -:id, under part*, and a ring around 

 the neek white ; front of tin- crown and a band on either side of the brcat 

 black; inner tail-lVutlu-r> t'ii.-,-.,u-, ,,ut< TOIH-S )><.-. .mint; white. Winter plum- 

 agt. Similar, but the l>lu-k n-]>lutvd by bruwni.th irruy. L., T'OO; V\ 

 Tar^-85; B^ -50. 



Kanyt. Eastern North AuifHoa, breeding from Virginia to Newfound- 

 land; winters frrii Florida southward. 



Long Inland. m>t uiu-.>iiiiiioii S. K., Mch. through Sept Sing Sintf, A. V. 



Eyy*, three to four, creamy white, finely opottcd or speckled with choco- 

 late, 1-24 x 



The Piping Plover resemMes the Ring-neck in habits but not in 

 notes. Mr. J. II. Langille writes that it " can not be called a ' whistler,' 

 nor even a ' pi|xT.' in an ordinary sonse. Its tone has a particularly 

 striking and musical quality. (Jueep, qntf/1, qurep-o, or ftetp, peep, 

 pt+p-lo, each syllable being uttered with a separate, distinct, and some- 

 what long-drawn enunciation, may imitate its peculiar melody, the 

 tone of which is round, full, and sweet, reminding one of a high key 

 on an Italian hand organ or the hautboy in a church organ. It is 

 always pleasing to the lover of Nature's melodies, and in the still air 

 of the evening it is very impressive." 



277a. JE. m. clrcumcincta /.v</j/r. BELTED PIPING PLOVER. 

 ('lonely resemble* the preceding, from which it ditTent in having the band* 

 V either side of the breast joined, t'..nnin.' a continuous brcastband. 



Rang*. Breed* from " northern Illinois and Nebraska northward to Lake 



