THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 119 



one and nine-tenths by one and three-tenths inches in 

 size. 



The breeding location and distribution is the same as 

 the foregoing. In New Jersey they are very erratic in 

 appearance, some years being very scarce and in other 

 years occurring in large flocks in the fall. They are more 

 frequent on the sea coast and at times are seen far out at 

 sea. 



The flesh of these birds is considered excellent for the 

 table; they feed on insects, principally in marshes and on 

 sandy hills and flats and old fields. 



Plover, Milldeer. See Killdeer. 



Plover, Piping. — Length, seven inches; extent, four- 

 teen inches; bill, half an inch in length, orange, tipped 

 with black; feet, greenish yellow, nails black; above, pale 

 gray; forehead, ring around hind neck, and entire lower 

 parts white, a black band across the crown and a black 

 patch on each side of the breast; long outer wing 

 feathers, black on outer web and at tip; two outer tail 

 feathers nearly pure white, others dusky, passing into 

 black with white tips. The female is rather duller in its 

 markings; adults in winter and also the young birds have 

 the black markings of the body replaced by gray. 



The nest is a depression in the sand and is very difficult 

 to find on account of the close resemblance between the 

 color of the eggs and the surroundings. The eggs are 

 generally four in number, of a light yellowish drab, with 

 black and brown spots, and one and one-fourth by one 

 inch in size. 



The birds breed from the southern coast of Labrador to 

 Virginia and spend the winter in the south Atlantic states 

 as far south as the West Indies; a few breed and a few 

 winter in New Jersey ; formerly they bred abundantly. 



The food consists of insects and small Crustacea gather- 

 ed from the tide- washed sands; the flesh is palatable when 

 the birds are fat, but frequently has a sedgy flavor. 



