^GIALITES MELODUS : PIPING PLOVER. 1 75 



PIPING PLOVER: PALE RING-NECK. 



^GIALITES MELODUS {WHs.) Bp. 



Chars. Coloration above, very pale, ashy-brown ; the black bands 

 about the head narrow, that on the neck rarely, if ever, forming 

 a perfect ring. In the young, both of this species and the pre- 

 ceding, the black bands are deficient, being replaced by dark ash. 

 This species is easily distinguished from the last, not only by its 

 coloration, but by its very short, stout, obtuse bill, and lack of 

 any evident webbing between the middle and inner front toes. 

 It is likewise smaller. 



As indicated in the preceding notice of the Semipal- 

 mated Plover, the Piping is one of New England's sum- 

 mer birds, breeding all along our coast ; and it does not 

 appear to proceed much north of Maine for that pur- 

 pose. It is particularly abundant on the coast of south- 

 ern Newr England in May, and during August and 

 September, and much more conspicuous at such times, 

 when flocking on the beaches, than when dispersed in 

 pairs to breed. The breeding habits are closely cor- 

 respondent with those of its southern relative, Wilson's 

 Plover ; that is to say, it lays in the bare shingle of the 

 sea-coast, rather than in muddy and marshy places back 

 of the beach line. The eggs, too, are almost exactly 

 like those of Wilson's Plover, excepting that they are 

 smaller. They may be distinguished at a glance from 

 those of the Ring-neck by their light color and fine, 

 sparse speckling. The ground is clay-color, or palest 

 possible creamy-brown, marked nearly uniformly all 

 over, but sparsely, with small blackish-brown dots and 

 specks, but no spots of any size nor scratchy lines ; the 

 largest markings observed scarcely exceed a pin's head. 



