THE PIPING PLOVER. 223 



bulbiform, with very numerous small cylindrical glands disposed in a broad 

 belt. The stomach is roundish or broadly elliptical, moderately compressed; 

 its lateral muscles large, as are the tendons; the lower muscle prominent and 

 thin; the upper of considerable size; the epithelium dense, and longitudinally 

 rugous. The intestine is rather long, and of moderate width; the rectum 

 considerably dilated; the cceca long, very slender, cylindrical, contracted at 

 the base, with the tip blunt. The lobes of the liver are very unequal, the 

 right being largest; there is no gall-bladder. The trachea is rather wide, 

 flattened; its rings very numerous, narrow, cartilaginous, the lower ring 

 large; two dimidiate rings. Bronchi rather wide, of from 15 to 20 half 

 rings. Lateral muscles moderate, sending a slip to the last dimidiate ring. 



THE PIPING PLOVER. 



-HUharadrius melodus, Ord. 

 PLATE CCCXXL— Male and Female. 



During the spring and summer months, this pretty little Plover is found 

 on the sandy beaches of our extensive coasts, from the southern point of the 

 Floridas to the confines of Maine. As you proceed towards Labrador, you 

 find it in every suitable place, as far as the Magdeleine Islands, on the sands 

 of which I saw many that were paired and had eggs on the 11th of June, 

 1833. It breeds on all parts of the eastern coast of the United States, 

 wherever the locality is adapted to its habits. On the 3d of May, this bird 

 was found with eggs on the Keys of the Floridas; about a month later, you 

 may meet with it in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. 

 Those which leave the south at the approach' of spring, return to it about 

 October; and during the whole winter you may find them on the sandy 

 beaches, from South Carolina to the western coast of the Floridas. The 

 species, therefore, may be considered as resident with us. 



While migrating eastward, the Piping Plovers proceed in pairs; and should 

 one of these on its way find a convenient place for breeding, and remain 

 there, several others are often induced to take up their abode in the neigh- 

 bourhood. In autumn, they go in flocks of twenty or thirty individuals, 



