THE AMERICAN RING PLOVER, 



{Aegialitis semipalmata.') 



Among the many interesting birds, 

 none will attract the attention of the 

 naturalist more quickly than the pretty 

 and well known American Ring or Semi- 

 palmated Plover. Graceful in all its 

 motions, It also has many other engaging- 

 characteristics. As it runs along the 

 sand of the seashore searching for food 

 which may have been left by the reced- 

 ing tide, every movement is attractive. 

 Like many other shore birds, it will also 

 follow the retreating waves, picking up 

 any minute mollusks which have been 

 washed in by the breakers. However, 

 this Plover is not confined to the vicinity 

 of the seashore. Its range may be said 

 to cover North America in general. It 

 nests in Arctic and sub-arctic districts, 

 and in winter it passes southward as far 

 as Brazil and Peru. In the middle states 

 it is chiefly a bird of passage, and during 

 its migrations, frequents streams and 

 other bodies of water. Both young and 

 eggs have been taken in Illinois. 



Dr. Coues found the Semipalmated 

 Plovers breeding abundantly in Labrador 

 and also observed that they remained 

 there in large numbers until the first 

 week in September. 



"Here they were more than ordinarily 

 gentle and unsuspicious, especially the 

 young ones, wholly unaccustomed to the 

 presence of man. Subsequently, after 

 persecution by the boys and pot-hunters, 

 to whom they are objects of wanton pur- 

 suit, they seem to acquire a little wisdom 

 by experience, though they cannot be 

 regarded as wary under any circum- 

 stances." 



The habits of the Semipalmated Plover 

 are very similar to those of the killdeer 

 (Aegialitis vocifera). Its nest lined with 

 dry grasses and leaves, is a depression in 

 the ground or a cavity formed in a bed 

 of moss. In either case, a nesting site is 

 usually selected which is sheltered from 

 the cold Arctic winds and exposed to the 

 direct rays of the sun. Its call-note is a 

 whistle, quite like that of the other plover 

 species. 



Audubon thus describes its breeding 

 habits: "As soon as one of us was 

 noticed by a Ring Plover it would at 

 once stand still and become silent. If we 

 did the same, it continued and seldom 

 failed 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, drop its wings, depress its 

 head and run with great speed to a con- 

 siderable 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 extreme- 

 ties, 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 discov- 

 ered them; but which, on being traced, 

 ran swiftly off uttering a plaintive peep, 

 often repeated, that never failed to bring 

 their parents to their aid." 



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