The Black-bellied Plover 



The association of species, "mixed companies," is a familiar feature 

 of Shore-bird life, and the Black-bellied Plover is one of the most sociable 

 of the friendly family. In their local movements they will tolerate any of 

 the lesser sorts, but their preference for the Sanderling is rather marked, 

 especially in the case of a single bird. The little urchins troop at the 

 heels of their larger protector and dog his steps, when one would suppose 

 that he would far rather enjoy the company of his own kind. But the 

 Beetle-head appears to accept his responsibility good-naturedly, and it is 

 probable that the schoolboy rout and its chosen leader do off great dis- 

 tances together. The Black-bellied Plover, also, is the only Shore-bird 

 I know which will not give heed to the extravagant alarms of the Kill- 

 deer. Sqiiatarola forms his own judgments of right and wrong, and acts 

 accordingly. 



The note of this Plover is a drawling and somewhat melancholy 

 whistle, we'-u-we or hee'-oo-ee, descending to a lower pitch in the second 

 note, and returning with a softer utterance on the last. This liquid 

 sound, for all of its mournful tinge, is one of the sweetest in nature; and 

 it takes no stretch of the imagination to picture a wooing conducted in 

 such dulcet tones. But in the South, this note is usually heard just 

 before or immediately after the birds take wing, and is evidently a note 



Taken near Santa Barbara 

 Photo by the Author 



BATTALION DRILL 



THE REVIEWING OFFICERS ARE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, WHILE SANDERLINGS ARE THE SOLDIERS 



1295 



