BLACK-BELLIED PLOVEK. 
13 
SUEGESUS II SairJTJiJ10I.J, CUVIER. 
198 . CHARABHrUS nELFSTICUS, BONArAKTE. 
^njSADlinrs JFRICARias, WILSOM. BLACK-BEI.I-IED rlOVEB. 
"WIESON, PLATE I.VII. FIG. IV. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This bird is known in some parts of the country by 
ne name of the large whistling lield plover. It gene- 
21 y makes its first appeaivance in Pennsylvania late in 
April ; frequents the oouutries towards the mountains; 
seems partienlarly attached to newly ploughed fields, 
where it forms its nest of a few slight materials as 
slightly put together. The female lays four eg<.s, large 
for the size of the bird, of a light olive coloiw dashtd 
nitli black; and has trequeiitly two brood in the same 
se^on. It IS an extremely shy and watchful bird, 
though clamorous during breeding time. The young 
0“ and belly 
until the second year, and the colours of the plumage 
hove arc likewise imperfect till then. They feed on 
’ " inged insects, and various kinds of 
and*'**'’ P^'^'^^ularly those iisnally called dew-berries. 
At... *^'?*^*‘ times considered exquisite eating, 
tbo!^ beginning of Se]itcniber, they descend with 
numo^**'"^ 1 ° coast, and associate with the 
places 'uu'titudes then returning from their breeding 
on the'**! north. At this season they abound 
whistlimi* of Long Island. They have a loud 
called bvm'.,. ^ beight; and are 
kildeer.'^ ^ gunners along the coiust the black-bellied 
rcsembbinee'* ^^ung of the first year have considerable 
S di-stil •' plover; but may be 
have i greater nuniber of those which I 
the chan f- rudiments of a bind toe ; but 
cuo4 rtb^l^d -'•e 20 conspi- 
l>ird, as to determiue, at the fii’st glance. 
