BELTED PIPING PLOVER 89 



coverts are white. Tail dusky in the centre, 

 outer pairs of feathers growing white. Wing 

 quills dusky with whitish patches. Eyelids or- 

 a.nge. Bill as in the last species but not so 

 brightly colored. This species is also webbed 

 between the middle and outer toes, but not to 

 so great an extent as in the preceding. The 

 Pale Ringneck is a trifle smaller than the Semi- 

 palmated Plover. Both birds inhabit the in- 

 land country as well as the coast, but in New 

 England are rarely found away from the sea- 

 shore. 



The bird at the right in the plate represents 

 this species. 



THE BELTED PIPING PLOVER. 



(^gialitis meloda circumcincta.) 



This bird is so similar in his markings to the 

 Pale Ringneck that one must be a very close 

 student to detect the difference. He may per- 

 haps be a little grayer in his tones. He is not 

 so often taken on New England shores, his range 

 lying more to the westward. 



The principal characteristic of this variety, 

 which is of somewhat doubtful value in or- 



