Birds of Canada. 83 



visitor in t Canada. Color, above, light brown; 

 beneath, white ; length, eight inches. Nests, in 

 the sand ; eggs, four, light buff. 



Squatarola helvetica. The Black-bellied Plover. 



This Plover breeds north of Ontario. Arrives 

 in Canada in September, in flocks. In their 

 habits they closely resemble the Golden Plover. 

 Color, above, white ; beneath, black ; sides of 

 the neck and rump, ashy ; bill and legs, black. 

 Length, eleven and a-half inches. 



FAMILY H^EMATOPIDID^E. THE* 

 O YSTER-CA TCHERS. 



Hcematopus palliatus, The Oyster-catchers. 



This species is a rare visitor in Canada. Head, 

 neck, upper part of breast, quill feathers, and 

 latter half of tail feathers, deep shining black : 

 the rest of the plumage is pure white ; bill, 

 three inches long, and flattened sideways. 



H. niger. Backman's Oyster-catcher. 



The general color of this bird is dark brown ; 

 head and breast, brownish-black. It is occasion- 

 ally shot, in the fall, on the island opposite 

 Toronto. 



