54 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
for the southern counties. Breeds early and departs for the 
south as soon as the ice forms. 
.E&iuliti* *eniipalmata Bonn p. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. 
Common migrant during May and first two weeks of June, 
and again during August and September. Numbers remain 
about the larger inland lakes and Lake Michigan during the 
summer. We procured the young, still unable to ////. at Lake 
Koshkonong on one occasion. Specimens are often taken in 
August with the natal clown still adhering to the feathers of 
the head and neck. Mr. Xelson believed that the species 
nested in northeastern Illinois in 1S73, and near there at least 
in following years, and we are of the opinion that he was 
wholly correct in his surmises to that effect. 
Egialitis meloda 0 d. . PIPING PLOVER. 
Xot nearly as common in the interior of the state as the 
preceding species, but more frequent on Lake Michigan. 
Arrives earlier than the semipalmated. Formerly bred spar- 
ingly about Lake Koshkonong and near Sheboygan on the 
lake shore. At the present time the bird is too rare to get any 
definite information regarding its occurrence. From 1870 to 
1900 this form did not frequent Lake Koshkonong and the 
surrounding lake country in such numbers as the next, or at 
any rate more specimens were procured with the complete 
"ring" than without. Dr. Hoy met with it only in fall and 
considered it uncommon, but at that date, 1852, did not of 
course recognize the two varieties. In June and July. 1873. 
the ring-necks were much more abundant at Lake Kosh- 
konong than at any other time, before or since, of which we 
have record. 
.Ejaialitis meloda eirenmcincta Ridgw. BELTED PIPING PLOVER. 
What has been written in regard to the preceding variety 
applies equally to this form, except that oircumcincta occurs in 
greater numbers. For some unexplainable reason this species, 
in common with all waders, and even those kinds which are 
never hunted, has greatly decreased in numbers of late years. 
This sub-species once bred about Lake Koshkonong and other 
favorable lakes, but is now almost entirely absent, except a 
limited number during migrations. 
