486 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.—CHARADRIUS APRICARIUS.— 
Fie. 226. 
Alwagrim Plover, Arct, Zool. p. 483, No. 398.—Le pluvier doré 4 gorge noire 
Buf. vill. 85. —Peale’s Museum, No. 4196. 
SQUATAROLA CINEREA. — F..puine.* 
Pluvialis cinerea, Will. Orn. 229.— Gray Squatarol, Squatarola grisea, Steph. 
» Cont. Sh. Zool. vol. xi. p. 505.—Le vanneau gris, Cuv. Reg. Anim. vol. i. p. 
467.—Squatarola cinerea, Flem. Br. Zool. p. 3. — Vanelius melanogaster, 
North. Zool. ii. p. 370. 
Tuts bird is known in some parts of the country by the name of the 
Large Whistling Field Plover. It generally makes its first appearance 
in Pennsylvania late in April; frequents the countries towards the 
mountains; seems particularly attached to newly-ploughed fields, 
where it forms its nest of a few slight materials, as slightly put to- 
gether. The female lays four eggs, large for the size of the bird, of a 
light olive color, dashed with black; and has frequently two broods in 
the same season. It is an extremely shy and watchful bird, though 
clamorous during breeding time. The young are without the black 
color on the breast and belly until the second year, and the colors of 
the plumage above are likewise imperfect till then. They feed on 
worms, grubs, winged insects, and various kinds of berries, particularly 
those usually called dew-berries, and are at such times considered 
exquisite eating. About the beginning of September, they descend 
with their young to the sea-coast, and associate with the numerous 
multitudes then returning from their breeding-places in the north. At 
this season they abound on the plains of Long Island. They have a 
loud, whistling note; often fly at a great height; and are called by 
many gunners along the coast the Black-bellied Kildeer. The young 
* This species, with some others, forms the division Vanneaw pluviers, the genus 
Squatarola of Cuvier, and, according to modern ornithologists, has been separated 
from the Charadrii, on account of the presence of a hinder toe. 
In the arrangement of this group, as in many others, I fear the characteristic 
marks have been taken in a manner too arbitrary. Those birds known by the 
name of Plovers form a small but apparently distinct group; they contain the C. 
pluvialis, Virginianus, &c., and, but for the rudimentary toe, the Gray Plover 
would also enter it; they agree in their manners, their incubation, and changes of 
plumage. We, again, have another well-defined group, which is called the Dot- 
terels, agreeing in similar common habitudes ; but, in one species, bearing accord- 
ing to arrangement the name of Squatarola, we have all the marks and form of 
plumage, but the hinder toe much developed. It therefore becomes a question, 
whether the presence or want of this appendage should be brought into the generic 
character, (as it always has been,) o> should be looked upon as one of the connec- 
tions of forms. In the latter way «he Plovers should form the genus Squatarola, 
the Dotterels Charadrius, and the two birds in question be placed opposite in their 
respective circles. 
Vanellus, or the Lapwings, again, form another group, as well marked in their 
different habits, and intimately ec d with Pluvianus ; neither of these, how- 
ever, have any representative in North America. 
Many Gray Plovers breed in the English fens, and, like the migratory Sandpipers, 
flocks appear on the shores, at the commencement of winter, where they mingle 
with the other species. The plate is that of the summer or breeding plumage. — ED. 
