CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 209 



species on the sands of Brackley beach, Prince Edward Island. 

 They were mere holes in the sand or rather fine gravel and broken 

 shells and without any lining whatever. The bird and its sur- 

 roundings were so much alike that it was only by accident that any 

 nests were found. Mr. W. Saunders writes that he has an egg, 

 which is probably of this species, from Long Point, Lake Erie, and 

 also a young bird, only a few days old, taken on Point Pelee, Lake 

 Erie. 



277a. Belted Piping Plover. 



yEgialitis meloda circumcincta Ridgw. 1874. 



This form is quite common on Sable Island nearly 100 miles east 

 of Canso, N.S., and breeds there in numbers every year. The 

 writer procured specimens on the island in August, 1898, and saw 

 no difference between them and those taken at Indian Head, Sask., 

 in 1892. No doubt this is the form mentioned under the head of 

 piping plover by Seton in his Birds of Manitoba. This species did 

 not reach Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., until May i6th, 1892. In 

 three days they were common. Shortly after they dispersed to 

 breed, only a few pairs remaining at the lake. I am. informed by 

 Mr. Dippie that a nest of this species containing four eggs was taken 

 at Manitoba House, Manitoba lake, in June, 1895, and that downy 

 young have been taken also. 



This species is occasionally taken at Toronto, Ont. All recent 

 records belong to this form. (/. H. Fleming.) All the birds seen 

 by me in 1905 and 1906 on the former breeding-grounds of the 

 piping plover were the belted plover. (W. Saunders.) 



Breeding Notes. — On June 19th, 1895, Mr. Oliver Spanner 

 found a nest of this species on Birch island near the west shore of 

 Lake Manitoba. The nest consisted of a depression in the sand 

 lined with bits of drift-weed and contained three eggs, which are 

 similar to those of the common piping plover; the ground colour is 

 pale buff which is finely spotted with black and purple and gray. 

 The eggs average in size 1.25 x i. 00 inches. Both eggs and skin 

 of the parent are now in my collection. Mr. Spanner also obtained 

 young birds in the down at the same time. He saw several pairs 

 of the plovers in company with soHtary sandpipers, which were no 

 doubt nesting in the vicinity. (Raine.) 

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