56 



K1LDEER PLOVER— PIPING RINGED PLOVER- RING-NECKED PLOVER. 



the survivors pursue their bus} r avocations with as little apparent 

 concern as at the first." Like other Sandpipers, it associates in 

 more or less numerous flocks while in winter-quarters, but lives in 

 pairs throughout the summer. In disposition it is gentle and more 

 confiding than other members of its family, but closely resembles 

 them in its general habits. With so little timidity does the Sander- 

 ling regard man, that it is not uncommon for it to permit his close 

 approach, and even if shot at, it often only moves a few paces from 

 the spot. Nauman mentions that upon one occasion, after watching 

 the proceedings of five of these birds, that were standing almost 

 close to him, in most evident disregard of his presence, the thought 

 struck him that he would arrange some snares he had in his pocket 

 and take the whole party prisoners. This he accordingly did, the 

 intended victims quietly watching his arrangements, and finally 

 walking amongst and entangling themselves in the treacherous 

 strings. This species is eight inches long, and fourteen and 

 a quarter inches broad. 



The Killdeer Plover. {/Egialitis vociferus.) 



Fig- 3- 



This species, so well known to the sportsman, is very abundant 

 throughout North America. It may be said, they are met with in 

 every quarter ; and while some occup}' the interior of the country, 

 frequenting its plains and open grounds, others prefer the vicinity 

 of the sea, or the margins of lakes and rivers, obtaining their food 

 principally from the water ; others, again, select desert tracts, 

 marshes, or mountainous districts. During the breeding season, 

 they live in pairs, but near together; subsequently, they collect 

 together, into large parties, which gradually increase in size as the 

 season for migrating approaches. In their habits they are usually 

 active. They run and fly with equal facility, and though they 

 rarely attempt to swim, are not altogether unsuccessful in that 

 particular. They utter a noisy, plaintive whistle, and, during the 

 breeding season, can produce a few connected, pleasing notes, 

 from which they derive their name. " At all times," says Nuttall, 

 "they are noisy and querulous to a proverb. In the breeding 

 season, nothing can exceed their anxiety and alarm ; and the inces- 

 sant cry of Killdeer, Killdeer, or te-te-de-dit, and te-dit, as they 

 waft themselves about overhead, or descend, and fly around you, 

 is almost deafening. At the same time, to carry out this appear- 

 ance of distress, they run along the ground, with hanging wings, 

 counterfeiting lameness to divert the attention of the intruder. In- 

 deed, no person can now approach the breeding-place, though at 

 a considerable distance, without being molested with their vocifer- 

 ous and petulant clamor. During the evening, and till a late hour 

 in moonlight nights, their cries are still heard, both in the fall and 

 spring. They seek their fare of worms and insects often in the 

 twilight, so that their habits are, in some degree, nocturnal, but they 

 also feed largely on grasshoppers, crickets, and carabasus." " The 

 Killdeer's large eyes," says Audubon, "seem to be given it to enable 

 it to feed by night as well as by day. At any time after the breed- 

 ing season, this species moves in loose flocks, seldom exceeding 

 ten or fifteen individuals, which disperse over the space of an acre 

 or two of ground. Yet some one of them always acts as a sentinel ; 

 for standing erect, to the full stretch of its legs, it carefully watches 

 all the moving objects around, as far as its eye can reach. Cows, 

 horses, or sheep are none of its enemies, and among them it will 

 seek for food; but let a man, or a dog, or any other animal bent 

 on destruction, show himself, and that instant the bird runs swiftly 

 with a querulous note, and should any of these, his enemies, 

 evince the least disposition to molest it, its beautiful wings and tail 

 are spread, and away it goes, cheerily calling to its companions 

 to follow." As game, their flesh is generally considered indifferent. 

 In the fall, however, when the young birds are fat, juicy, and ten- 

 der, they are considered by some as well flavored. This species 

 is ten inches long and twenty broad. 



The Piping Ringed Plover. (sEgialitis melodus.) 



Fig. 4. 



This pretty little species is most generally to be found along our 

 extensive sea-coast, from the southern point of the Floridas to the 

 frontier of Maine. The voice of this species, uttered while running 

 along the shore of the coast, is rather soft and musical, and consists 

 chiefly of a single varied and repeated melancholy, piping note. 

 The food of this species consists of various insects, larvas, mussels, 

 and similar fare. They drink much, bathe freely once or twice a 

 day, and frequently obtain their prey from under stones, in or near 

 the water. " The flight of the Piping Plover," says Audubon, 

 " is extremely rapid as well as protracted. It passes through the air 

 by glidings and extended flappings, either close over the sand or 

 high above the shores. On the ground few birds are swifter of 

 foot. It runs in a straight line before you, sometimes for twenty 

 or thirty yards, with so much celerity that unless you have a keen 

 eye it is almost sure to become lost to your view ; then, in an instant, 

 it stops, becomes perfectly motionless, and if it perceives that you 

 have not marked it, squats fiat on the sand, which it so much 

 resembles in color that you may as well search for another as try 

 to find it again." This active and lovely little bird is worthy the 

 attention of the young naturalist, as an object of study while tarry- 

 ing by the sea-side, where they are quite numerous. The study 

 of their habits would alone afford entertainment and occupation 

 for a season. Their motions, so beautiful and graceful, as they 

 course along the sand, stopping to examine the shells which the 

 tide in its recess has left upon the beach, or following the retreat- 

 ino- breakers to pick up the minute shell-fish borne in by the waves, 

 is very entertaining. So, also, is the soft and musical note which 

 is uttered with a somewhat deceptive effect, and is often heard pro- 

 ceeding from various quarters at the same time, without our being 

 able to discover its source. The nest of this species consists chiefly 

 of a small hole scooped out of the sand, often near the base of a 

 tuft of grass. The female lays four eggs, which are mostly 

 hatched by the warmth of the sand, acquired by exposure to a hot 

 sun. The length of this bird is six inches and a half, and the span 

 of the wing thirteen inches. 



The Semi-palmated, Ring, or Ring-neck Plover. 



palmatus.) 



Fig. 5- 



(y&gialitis semi- 



This little Plover arrives from the South along our sea-coasts, 

 and in the Middle States, near the close of April, when they may 

 be observed feeding and searching for their food, which consists 

 of small Crustacea, mollusca, and the eggs of various marine 

 animals. During the latter part of May, they may be seen in 

 flocks, on their way farther North, and in summer are even ob- 

 served as far as the icy shores of Greenland. According to Rich- 

 ardson, they abound in Arctic America during the summer, and 

 breed in similar situations with the Golden Plover. Mr. Hutchins 

 adds, "its eggs, generally four, are dark-colored, and spotted with 

 black." The aborigines say, that on the approach of stormy 

 weather, this species utters a chirping noise, and claps its wings, 

 as if influenced by some instinctive excitement. As soon after the 

 breeding season as their young have acquired strength, and the 

 inclement weather sets in, they migrate to warmer climates. 

 Flocks of the. old and young may be seen in the fall passing to the 

 South. They are fond of associating with other birds of similar 

 habits, and are generally unsuspicious, so that they are easily 

 approached. On most occasions, and when flushed, they utter a 

 reiterated, sharp, twittering, and wild note, very much in unison 

 with the ceaseless echoes of the breaking surge, and the lashing 

 of the waves, near which they almost perpetually course, gliding 



