■^ 



la^l: 



PLOVERS. 



1 tmf 



This species frequents Piindy bent-hes, mud-flats, iitul ninrshcs. It 

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

 unlike the Sund Oxeyes, do not feed in a compact body, but run rap- 

 idly about, indeponc'enlly of one uiidther. VVlien they take wing, 

 however, tiiey 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 siiores. At noonday, when the heat waves are 

 dancing over the marshes aiul even tiu; twittering Oxeyes are silent, 

 one may hear the cool, pure notes of this little Plover. They may be 



written 



A third, shorter note is sometimes added. 



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



The Ring I'lovkh (27-'i. ^Kijidlitls hinticu/'i), an Old-World speeies, is 

 found in (irounliind. It is simihir to the i)rwiHling Imt sl'ufhtly lurger, the 

 black hand ou thu bruust is wider, and tlicro is no web between the inner and 

 middle toes. 



877. ^ig^allttB meloda (Or</). Vwiya Pi.ovkr. A<1. in summer. 

 — Uj)pL'r parts jiule wliitisli asliy ; tuivlKtul, under parts, and u rnij^ around 

 the ncek white ; front of the crown and a band on either side of the brea.st 

 black ; inner tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones beeoininjr white. Winter pluin- 

 a<je. — Similar, but the bhick replaced by brownish gray. L., 700; W., 4'75; 

 Tur., -85 ; B., -50. 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from Virginia to Newfound- 

 land ; winters from Florida southward. 



Long Island, not uncommon S. U., Mch. tlirough Sept. Sinsr Sinjr, A. V. 



E(j(js, three to four, creamy white, tinely spotted or speckled with choco- 

 late, 1-2-t X -95. 



The Piping Plover resembles the Ring-neck in habits but not in 

 notes. Mr. J. II. Langille writes that it " can iu)t be called a ' whistler,' 

 nor even a ' pii)er,' in an ordinary sense. Its tone has a particularly 

 striking and musical quality. Qneep, queep, qneep-o, or peep, peep, 

 peep-lo, each syllable being uttered with a separate, d'stinct, and some- 

 what long-drawn enunciation, nuvy imitate its peculiar melody, the 

 tone of which is round, full, and sweet, reminding o:h' of a high key 

 on an Italian hand organ or the haitthoi/ in a church organ. It is 

 always pleasing to the lover of Nature's melodies, and in the still air 

 of the evening it is very impressive." 



877a* JE, m* circumcinctai Rltl<jH\ BKi.TKn Ph-ino Pi.ovkr.— 

 Closely resembles the precedin>r, from which it differs in liaviiii; the bands 

 on either side of the breast joined, formim,' a coiitiimous brcastband. 



Bailee. — Breeds from "northern Illinois and Nebraska northward to Lake 



