220 AMERICAN RING PLOVER. 



briskly to avoid us, and concealed themselves so closely by squatting, that it 

 was very difficult to discover them even when only a few feet distant. 



This species, like the Piping Plover, Charadrius meZodus, forms no nest; 

 and whilst the latter scoops a place in the sand for its eggs, the Ring Plover 

 forms a similar cavity in the moss, in a place sheltered from the north winds, 

 and exposed to the full rays of the sun, usually near the margins of small 

 ponds formed by the melting of the snow, and surrounded by short grass. 

 Some of these pools are found on the tops of the highest rocks of that 

 country. The eggs, like those of all the family, are four, and placed with 

 the small ends together. They are broad at the larger end, rather sharp at 

 the other, measure 1-J inches in length, 7-| inches in their greatest breadth, 

 are of a dull yellowish colour, irregularly blotched and spotted all over with 

 dark brown of different tints. The young are at first of a yellowish-grey 

 colour, prettily marked with darker spots on the shoulders and rump. As 

 soon as their parents dismissed them, they were observed searching for food 

 among the drying cod-fish, and along the beaches. 



By the 12th of August, all the individuals which had bred in Labrador 

 and Newfoundland, had taken their departure, migrating southward in com- 

 pany with the Phalaropes and Schintz's Sandpipers. Many of these birds 

 proceed by our great lakes and rivers, they being sometimes seen in Septem- 

 ber along the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi. At this period they are 

 now and then observed on ploughed lands, where they appear to procure dif- 

 ferent species of seeds and insects. Along the whole extent of our Atlantic 

 shores they are numerous at this season, and great numbers are killed, the 

 flesh of the young birds especially being juicy and tender. 



The flight of this species is swift and sustained. They are fond of associat- 

 ing with other birds of similar habits, and are generally unsuspicious, so that 

 they are easily approached. When on wing, their notes are sharp, sonorous, 

 and frequently repeated. The young members of my party were often much 

 amused by witnessing our pointer chasing the old birds, whilst the latter, as 

 if perfectly aware of the superiority in speed, would seem to coax him on, 

 and never failed to exhaust him by flying along the declivities of the rocks 

 up to their summits, and afterwards plunging downwards to the base, thus 

 forming great circuits over a limited range. Their food consists of small 

 Crustacea, mollusca, and the eggs of various marine animals. The old males 

 are very pugnacious in the breeding season, and engage in obstinate conflicts, 

 drooping their wings, and trailing their tail fully spread out in the manner 

 of some species of Grouse on similar occasions. 



Ring Plover, Tringd Hiaticula, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 65. 

 Charadrius semipalmatcs, Bonap. Syn., p. 296. 



