266 



PLOVERS 



274. JEgialitis semipalmata (Bonap.). SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. (Figs 

 42d, 43e.). Ads. in summer. Feathers at base of upper mandible, front 

 of crown, sides of head below eye, and a band on breast, which generally 

 encircles the neck all around, black ; rest of underparts and a ring around the 

 neck white; back of head and back brownish gray; inner tail-feathers brown- 

 ish gray, outer ones becoming gradually white ; toes webbed at the base. Win- 

 ter plumage. Similar, but black 

 replaced by brownish gray. 

 L., 675; W., 4'80; Tar., '90; 

 B., "50. 



Range. N. and S. A. 

 Breeds from Melville Island, 

 Wellington Channel and Cum- 

 berland Sound to the valley of 

 the Upper Yukon, s. Macken- 

 zie, s. Keewatin, and Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence; winters from s. 

 L. Calif., La., and and S. C., 

 to Patagonia, Chile, and the 

 Galapagos; casual in Siberia, 

 Greenland, and Bermuda. 



Washington, rare T. V., 

 May; Aug.-Sept. Long Island, 

 abundant T. V., Apl. 29- June 

 4; July 15- Aug. 8. Ossining, 

 common T. V., in fall; Aug. 



FIG. 83. Semipalmated Plover. (Natural size.) 23-Sept. 20. Cambridge, rare 



in spring; sometimes common 



in Aug. and Sept. N. Ohio, common T. V., May 5-25; Aug. 25-Sept. 20. 

 SE. Minn., common T. V., May 23; Sept. 15. 



Eggs, 3-4, buffy white or creamy buff, spotted with chocolate, 1*30 x '90. 

 Date, Ungava Bay, Lab., June 10. 



This species frequents sandy beacKes, mud-flats, and marshes. It 

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

 unlike the Semipalmated Sandpipers, do not feed in a compact body, 

 but run rapidly about, independently of one another. 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 cool, pure notes of this little Plover. They may 



be written -yW ^f . A third, shorter note is sometimes added. 

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



277. jfEgialitis meloda (Ord). PIPING PLOVER. Ads. in summer. 

 Upperparts pale whitish ashy; forehead, underparts, and a ring around the 

 neck white; front of the crown and a band on either side of the breast, some- 

 times complete, black; inner tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones becoming 

 white. Winter plumage. Similar, but black replaced by brownish gray. 

 L., 7-00; W., 4-75; Tar., "85; B., '50. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds locally from s. Sask., s. Ont., Magdalen 

 Islands, and N. S. s. to cen. Nebr., nw. Ind., Lake Erie, N. J. (probably), 

 and Va.; winters on the coast of the U. S. from Tex. to Ga., and in n. Mex.; 

 casual in migration to N. F., the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Bermuda. 



