418 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



AUhougli I found a single pair with their nest on the 

 island of Muskegeet, Mass., in June, 1866, this bird gener- 

 ally breeds in the most northern parts of the continent. 

 Audubon, in describing its breeding habits, says, — 



"As soon as one of ns was noticed by a Ring Plover, it would 

 at once stand still, and become silent. If we did the same, it 

 continued, and seldom flxiled to wear out our patience. If we 

 advanced, it would lower itself, and squat on the moss or bare rock 

 until approached, when it would suddenly rise on its feet, droop its 

 wings, depress its head, and run with great speed to a considerable 

 distance ; uttering, all the while, a low rolling and querulous cry, 

 very pleasing to the ear. On being surprised when in charge of 

 their young, they would open their wings to the full extent, and 

 beat the ground with their extremities, as if unable to rise. If 

 pursued, they allowed us to come within a few feet, then took flight, 

 and attempted to decoy us away from their young, which lay so 

 close that we very seldom discovered them ; but which, on being 

 traced, ran swiftly off, uttering a plaintive fcep, often repeated, 

 that never failed to bring their parents to their aid. At Labrador, 

 the Ring Plover begins to breed in the beginning of June. Like 

 the Piping Plover, it forms no nest; but, whilst the latter scoops a 

 place in the sand for its eggs, the Ring Plover forms a similar 

 cavity in the moss, in a place sheltered from the north winds, and 

 exposed to the full rays of the sun, usually near the margins of 

 small ponds formed by the melting of the snow, and surrounded by 

 short grass. The eggs, like those of all the fiimily, are four, and 

 placed with the small ends together. They are broad at the larger 

 end, rather sharp at the other ; measure 1^ inch in length, 1^ 

 inches in their greatest breadth ; are of a dull-yellowish color, 

 irregularly blotched and spotted all over with dark-brown of dif- 

 ferent tints." 



Early in September, sometimes by the 20th of August, 

 small flocks of these birds appear in New England, and 

 they remain here as late as the first week in October : they 

 are now fat and delicate, and are esteemed excellent for the 

 table. 



