GRAY TLOVER. 113 



the Golden Plover, and may be purchased in the market for a considerably smaller sum. 

 In its habits, as exhibited in this country, the Gray Plover assimilates much more 

 closely to the little Plovers, than to the Golden Plover. It not only seeks its 

 food entirely on the sea-shores, being very rarely found inland, but even when the 

 tide advances, it will not leave the shore farther than is necessary to ensure it a com- 

 fortable standing-place, until it can again return to its feeding ground. In this country 

 it is never seen in large flocks ; two or three, or at most a dozen or twenty, being the 

 usual number seen : it seldom mixes with birds of other species. It is so extremely 

 watchful and suspicious that it is only obtainable with great difficulty ; and even if 

 tolerably common in any locality, it may be some time before one can be shot; during 

 the night it seems to put on a double amount of wariness, and at that time it is almost 

 impossible to get near it. Flat, sandy, and muddy shores are those most frequented by 

 this bird. Its chief feeding times are early in the morning and late in the evening; 

 but it probably also feeds much during the night, like the other Plovers, and for doing 

 which its large eye would seem specially adapted. In America during the spring and 

 summer, they frequent fields remote from the sea. Wilson says "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 together. About the beginning of September 

 they descend with their young to the sea-coast, and associate with the numerous multi- 

 tudes then returning from their breeding-places in the north. At this season they abound 

 on the plains of Long Island." 



Its note is a loud whistle; according to Thompson, a double whistle. 



The food consists, when inland, of insects of all kinds, worms, and various berries, 

 particularly those of the Vaccinia, and allied species. When feeding on the shores, as in 

 this country, it lives on marine insects, small Crustacea, various small marine mollusca, 

 sea-worms, and a small quantity of some sea-weeds. 



Its nest, according to Wilson, is placed on the ground, often in newly-ploughed fields, 

 and is very simple in its structure and materials. 



It lays four eggs, having a ground colour of light olive, dashed with black. They 

 are large for the size of the bird. 



The adult male in summer has the bill black; forehead and streak over the eyes, 

 white. Betwean the bill and the eye, the ear coverts, sides of the neck, breast, and 

 belly, black; thighs, vent, and under tail coverts, white. Feathers of top of head and 

 nape, hair brown, with lighter edges; back and scapulars, black, or deep brown, nearly 

 black, each feather edged with white. Primaries, brownish black with white shafts ; axillary 

 feathers, black; tail coverts, white with brown bars; tail, of twelve feathers, white, with 

 blackish bars. Legs and feet, dark lead-colour. 



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