THE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 423 



senting a scale-like appearance; the brownish-black of the upper parts with a 

 greenish lustre. 



Younger and winter plumage. Entire upper parts dark-brown, with circular 

 and irregular small spots of white, and frequently of yellow, most numerous on 

 the wing coverts ; upper tail coverts white ; under parts white, with short longi- 

 tudinal lines and spots dark brownish-cinereous on the neck and breast; quills brown- 

 ish-black, with large longitudinal spots of white on their inner webs, and also on the 

 outer webs of the shorter primaries. 



Young. Upper parts lighter, and with the white spots more irregular or 

 scarcely assuming a circular shape; narrow lines on the neck and breast more 

 numerous; iris black. 



Total length, about eleven and a half inches ; wings, seven and a half inches ; 

 tail, three inches. 



Hob. All of North America. The seacoasts of nearly all countries of the 

 world. 



This beautiful bird is almost of the same habits and 

 characteristics as the Golden Plover described on a preced- 

 ing page. It arrives and departs at nearly the same time 

 in spring, and, like that species, breeds in the most northern 

 sections of the continent. Wilson, in speaking of its breed- 

 ing in Pennsylvania, says, 



" This bird is known in some parts of the country by the name 

 of the Large Whistling Field Plover. It generally 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 color, dashed with black, and has 

 frequently two broods in the same season. It is an extremely shy 

 and watchful bird, though clamorous during breeding-time." 



About the 10th or 15th of September, or a fortnight later 

 than the Golden Plover, it returns on its southern migra- 

 tion; and the same means are employed for its destruc- 

 tion as for that bird : these birds are called by the gunners 

 by the name of Beetle-heads, and are esteemed as being 

 nearly as palatable and delicate as the other species. 



