SHORE BIRDS 
PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIID^E 
Plovers are stouter built birds than those of 
the previous family, have larger head, shorter 
necks and but three toes, the bill also is much 
harder and shorter. 
[269.] Lapwing. Vanellus vanellus. 
An abundant European species accidentally 
occurring on the Atlantic coast. It may read- 
ily be recognized by its long black crest, black 
chin and throat, and white under parts. It 
breeds throughout temperate Europe, laying 
its eggs in hollows on the ground. The eggs 
have a dark grayish buff ground and are spot- 
ted with black. Size 1.85 x 1.30. 
[269.L] ^Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus. 
i 
A European bird supposed to have been accidentally taken on the Atlantic 
coast. 
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270. Black-bellied Plover. Squatarola squatarola. 
Range. — Northern Hemisphere, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering 
from the Griilf States to northern South America. 
This is a remarkably handsome spe- 
cies when in the summer dress. The up- 
per parts are largely white with black 
spots and bars on the back, wings and 
tail ; the throat, sides of head, breast 
and fore under parts, black. In winter, 
brownish-black, somewhat mottled, above; 
below, dul ( l white. Young similar to win- 
ter adults,; but the back is spotted with 
yellowisli-White. While these handsome 
plover migjrate to some extent, and some- 
times in large flocks, through the inter- 
ior of the United States, they are chiefly 
and most abundantly found on the coast. 
This species has a very small hind toe. 
It is a very familiar bird to sportsmen 
and gunners, to whom it is generally known by the names of “Bull-head,” or 
“Beetle-head Plover.” They are very numerous in the fall, during which sea- 
son the underparts are entirely white. The eggs are either laid upon the bare 
ground or upon a slight lining of grasses of dead leaves. They are three or 
four in number, brownish or greenish buff in color and boldly marked with black. 
Size 2.00 x 1.40. Data. — Point Barrow, Alaska, June, 1900. Nest a small hollow’ 
on side of hillock, lined with dry grass. 
Grenish buffi. 
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