78 THE BIRDS 
scarcity of other ‘beach birds” of late years has been the 
cause of its decrease with us, the spring gunners having 
turned to this little plover when other larger birds were 
lacking. They present a very pretty sight, a flock with 
their snow-white underbreasts, black feet and bills, and 
broad band of black on the upper breast, following the 
surf foam as it runs in and out on the sandy beach, now 
and then all standing still with head drawn in, many 
balancing themselves on one leg and evidently asleep for 
an instant. The nest is a slight depression in the sandy 
beach, back from the ocean some twenty to fifty feet, 
among the shells and trash thrown up by the spring tides. 
The eggs number three to four, generally the former, the 
ground color a rich greenish-gray, blotched, spotted and 
lined with blackish-brown, and light lavender. Size, 
1.40x1.05. Fresh eggs May 12th to June 10th. Only 
one brood a season. They arrive with us about May Ist. 
Their food is similar to the former species, and procured 
on the mud flats and ocean beaches. 
