41 



BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 

 CHAEADBIUS APRICARIUS. 

 [Plate LVII.— Fig. 4.] 



Ahvagrhn JPhter^ Jlrct, Zool. p. 483, JS'o. 398. — Le Pluvier dore a goi'ge noire, Buff. VIII, 85.-— 



Peaie's Museum, tJV*o. 4196. 



THIS bird is known in some parts of the country by the 

 name of the large Whistling Field Plover. It generally makes its 

 first appearance in Pennsylvania late in April; frequents the coun- 

 tries towards the mountains ; seems particularly attached to newly 

 ploughed fields, where it forms its nest of a few slight materials, 

 as slightly put together. The female lays four eggs, large for the 

 size of the bird, of a light olive color dashed with black ; and has 

 frequently two brood in the same season. It is an extremely shy 

 and watchful bird, tho clamorous during breeding time. The 

 young are without the black color on the breast and belly until 

 the second year, and the colors of the plumage above are likewise 

 imperfect till then. They feed on worms, grubs, winged insects, 

 and various kinds of berries, particularly those usually called dew- 

 berries, and are at such times considered exquisite eating. About 

 the beginning of September they descend with their young to the 

 sea coast, and associate with the numerous multitudes then return- 

 ing from their breeding places in the north. At this season they 

 abound on the plains of Long island. They have a loud whistling 

 note; often fly at a great height; and are called by many gunners 

 along the coast the Black-bellied Kildeer. The young of the first 

 year have considerable resemblance to those of the Golden Plover; 

 but may be easily distinguished from this last by the largeness of 

 their head and bill, and in being at least two inches more in lengths 



VOL. VII. L 



