30 



RINGED PLOVER. 

 CHAEADEIUS HIATICULA. 

 [Plate XXXVIL— Fig. 3.] 



Lath. Syn, V, />. 201. 8. — ArcL Zool. II, No. 4>0l.^Petit Fluvier, a collier, Buff. VIII, 

 p. 90—6. PL enl. 921. — Pluvialis Torquata minor, Briss. V, />. 63. 8. t. 5,f. 2. — Turt. 

 St/St. p. 411. 2. — Peale's Museum, JVo, 4150. 



IT was not altogether consistent with my original plan to in- 

 troduce any of the Grallse or Waders, until I had advanced nearer 

 to a close with the Land Birds ; but as the scenery here seemed 

 somewhat appropriate, I have taken the liberty of placing in it two 

 birds, reduced to one-third of their natural size, both being varie- 

 ties of their respective species, each of which will appear in their 

 proper places, in some future volume of this work, in full size and 

 in their complete plumage. 



The Ringed Plover is very abundant on the low sandy shores 

 of our whole sea-coast, during summer. They run, or rather seem 

 to glide, rapidly along the surface of the flat sands; frequently 

 spreading out their wings and tail like a fan, and fluttering along, 

 to draw or entice one away from their nests. These are formed 

 with little art; being merely shallow concavities dug in the sand, 

 in which the eggs are laid, and, during the day at least, left to the 

 influence of the sun to hatch them. The parents, however, always 

 remain near the spot to protect them from injury, and probably 

 in cold rainy or stormy weather, to shelter them with their bodies. 

 The eggs are three, sometimes four, large for the bird, of a dun clay 

 color, and marked with numerous small spots of reddish purple. 



The voice of these little birds, as they move along the sand, 

 is soft and musical, consisting of a single plaintive note occasionally 



