clxxxiv 
CHABADRIIDai. BIBDS. HaiMATOPODID^. 
lameness. It resembles, in the latter habit, the 
Lapwing of Europe. Its cries are heard even after 
dark, or on moonlight nights. It is one of the few 
birds of this group that breed in all parts of the 
United States. 'J'hough so familiar in all localities, 
yet it migrates extensively, being seen as far south 
as South America. 
RING PLOVER {jSSgialitis semipalmatus) . — The 
“Eing-neck,” or Semi-palmated Plover, like many 
other American birds, is closely like the European, 
though distinguished by a greater extent of basal 
web between the toes, which gives the trivial name 
to this species. It is common in all parts of the 
United States, migrating as far south as Brazil, and 
in summer is found in Greenland. It has a sharp, 
twittering note, says Wilson, peculiarly soft and 
musical, resembling the tone of a German flute, 
which it utters when running along the sand, with 
expanded tail and hanging wings, endeavoring to de- 
coy you from her nest. In the Middle States it is 
chiefly a bird of passage, breeding in higher latitudes. 
In Labrador it breeds in great numbers. 
PIPING PLOVER {^gialitis melodus). — 'I’he Ring 
Plover is also a name given to this bird in some sec- 
tions. It is common to all parts of the United 
States and British Provinces east of the Rocky 
Mountains, and is particularly abundant on the 
Atlantic Coast. It breeds in the northern portions, 
and winters in the Carolinas southward to Cuba and 
Jamaica. The Piping Plover does not breed in high 
northern latitudes, being only seen about the borders 
of Canada and the States, especially on the Atlantic 
Coast. Dr. Coues thinks that some breed as far 
south as the Carolinas. 
WILSON’S PLOVER [j^gialitis wilsonius). — 'J'his 
Plover is conflned to the eastern and southern por- 
tions of North America, and the same on the coast 
of South America. It is readily recognized by its 
long and stout bill and short tail. It is about seven 
and three-quarter inches long and fifteen and a half 
in alar extent. Its front is broad and white, bounded 
by a widish band of black ; the lores also black ; 
the legs and feet are flesh-colored ; the claws, black ; 
the bill is black and stout, an inch long, the upper 
mandible projecting. AEgialitis nivosa is a species 
rather smaller than the present, and is peculiar to 
the coast of California. JE. microrhyncha is an- 
other California species, found by Mr. Ridgway, and 
desci'ibed by him in Am. Naturalist, vol. viii, 1874. 
MOUNTAIN PLOVER [Eudromias montanus ). — 
This is one of the strictly western species. Its east- 
ern limit, as far as known, is Middle Kansas. North- 
ward it goes as far as Canada line, and southward to 
'I'exas. Its name is not well chosen, as it equally 
visits the plains and mountains. It is peculiar in 
resorting to dry and arid plains, being in this respect 
diflerent from the others that frequent the sea-shore 
and river-side. Ur. Coues found it in New Mexico 
late in June, associated with the Curlews, and thinksit 
breeds there. “ They were not difficult of approach, 
and were seen in large flocks. When disturbed, 
they dipped the head, ran rapidly a few steps in a 
light, easy way, and then stopped abruptly, drawing 
themselves up to their full height, and looking around 
with timid yet unsuspicious glances. Their notes are 
rather peculiar, as compared with those of our other 
Plovers, and vary a good deal according to circum- 
stances. When feeding at leisure, and no way appre- 
hensive of danger, they utter a low and rather pleas- 
ing whistle, though in a somewhat drawling or lisp- 
ing tone ; but the note changes to a louder and higher 
one, sometimes sounding harshly. When forced to 
fly by persistent annoyance, they rise rapidly, with 
quick wing-beats, and then proceed with alternate 
sailing and flapping, during the former action hold- 
ing the wings decurved. They generally fly low 
over the ground. TLey then either squat low, in 
hopes of hiding, or stand on tip-toe, as it were, for 
a better view of what alarmed them. They are 
mostly insect-eaters.” 
Family— H.®MATOPODIDA5. 
'J’he 'I’urnstonbs. 
THE TURNSTONE (Strepsilas interpres) is a soli- 
tary species, and one known to all parts of the 
world. It is probably the most widely distributed 
of any bird. Its trivial name is derived from the 
circumstance that it has the habit of turning over 
small stones to reach its food, which consists of the 
crustaceans that lurk beneath them in tide-pools. 
This bird is about nine inches in length, with a wing 
of six inches’ in extent. Nuttall regards it as solitary 
and wild by nature, coursing the shore in pairs, or in 
small parties, which have bred together. In May 
and June it feeds almost exclusively on the spawn of 
the Limulus, or Horse-shoe Grab, which it finds at 
that time on the sands of the coast of New Jersey. Its 
note is loud and twittering, emitted while flying or 
running; at the same time its wings are lowered. 
Audubon describes with considerable minuteness the 
method adopted by the 'rurnstone to overturn the 
oyster-shells and stones for its food. 'I’he bill of the 
bird is curved upwards slightly, like a lever adapted 
to the purpose. When the bill proves too feeble, 
the breast of the bird is pressed upon the object and 
loosened previous to its removal. A species is found 
in the western portions of North America, which 
has been named the Black Turnstone (S. melano- 
cephalus). It is the same in size, but has a dark 
head, breast and upper parts. Local names are 
Brant-bird and Calico-back. 
THE OYSTER-CATCHER {Hcematopus palUatus ) — 
Plate 23, fig. 90 — is common to all the Atlantic 
States, and probably is along the Pacific Coast. 
It is a fine, large bird, measuring seventeen and 
one-half inches in length, with a spread of wing 
equal to ten inches. Its bill is long, straight and 
flattened ; the tail short. The sexes are alike ex- 
ternally. Nuttall describes two kinds, and speaks 
of the present as the Pied Oyster-catcher, and of 
its identity with the European species. The two 
are, however, distinct. This bird is rarely seen 
above Long Island Sound, and is more at home 
south of Cape Hatteras. About the last of April 
it is seen in pairs or in small parties on the 
