200 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 



out in pursuit. The young leave the nest almost immediately after they are 

 hatched, and should one approach them the parents become very clamorous, 

 and fly around until they are assured of the safety of their brood, when they 

 take a long flight, and disappear for a time. Unless during the breeding 

 season, they are exceedingly shy; but their anxiety for their young renders 

 them forgetful of the danger which they incur in approaching man. The 

 young, when two or three weeks old, run with great celerity, and squat in 

 perfect silence when apprehensive of danger. When they are able to fly, 

 several families unite, and betake themselves to the sea-shore, where other 

 flocks gradually arrive, until at length, on the approach' of cold weather, al- 

 most all of them begin to move southward. Although the great body of 

 these Plovers pass beyond the limits of the United States, some remain on 

 the shores of the Floridas during winter. In their habits they are more 

 maritime than the Golden Plovers, which, when migrating, generally ad- 

 vance over the land. 



The flight of this bird is swift, strong, and well sustained. When roam- 

 ing over large sand-bars, they move in compact bodies, whirling round, and 

 suddenly veering, so as alternately to exhibit their upper and lower parts. 

 At this time old and young are intermixed, and many of the former have 

 lost the black so conspicuous on the neck and breast in summer. During 

 winter, or as long as they frequent the sea-shore, they feed on marine in- 

 sects, worms, and small shell-fish; and when they are in the interior, on 

 grasshoppers and other insects, as well as berries of various kinds, on which 

 they fatten so as to become tolerably good eating. 



This species is known in Pennsylvania by the name of Whistling Field 

 Plover, suggested by the loud and modulated cries which it emits during the 

 love-season. In the Eastern States, as well as in Kentucky, it is called the 

 Bull-head; but in the South its most common appellation is Black-bellied 

 Plover. I have seen it, though sparingly, along the shores of the Ohio, pro- 

 bably during its passage from the north. 



As its habits agree with those of the Plovers generally, and its form is 

 similar to that of the Golden Plover and other species, the only difference 

 being the presence of a rudimentary hind toe, it was scarcely necessary to 

 distinguish it generically from Charadrius, as many recent authors have 

 done. 



Tringa helvetica and So.uatarola, Linn. Syst. Nat., p. 250, 252. 

 Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 41. Sum- 

 mer. 

 Charadrius helveticds, Bonap. Syn.. p. 298. 



Grey Lapwing, Vanellus melanogaster, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 370. 

 Black-bellied or Swiss Plover, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 26. 

 Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 280. 



