SPECIES 6. CHARADRIUS APRICJ2RIUS. 
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
[Plate LVIL— Fig. 4.] 
Alwagrim Plover, Arct, Zool. p, 483, JVo. 398. — Le Pluvier dore 
a gorge noire, Buff, mii, 85. — Peale’s Museum, JSTo. 4196. 
This bird is known in some parts of the country by the name 
of the large Whistling Field Plover. It generally makes its 
first appearance in Pennsylvania late in April; frequents the 
countries towards the mountains; seems particularly attached to 
newly ploughed fields, where it forms its nest of a few slight 
materials, as slightly put together. The female lays four eggs, 
large for the size of the bird, of a light olive colour, dashed 
with black; and has frequently two broods in the same season. 
It is an extremely shy and watchful bird, though clamorous 
during breeding time. The young are without the black colour 
on the breast and belly until the second year, and the colours 
of the plumage above are likewise imperfect till then. They 
feed on worms, grubs, winged insects, and various kinds of ber- 
ries, particularly those usually called dew-berries, and are at 
such times considered exquisite eating. About the beginning 
of September, they descend with their young to the seacoast, 
* Charadriw Helveticus, Bonaparte, Journal Acad. Nat. Sc. v, p. 103 . Ann 
Lyc. II p.298 — Vanellus fhlvelicus,Biiiss. v,p. 107, pi. ^0. fig. 1. Summer dress. 
Oru’s reprint, VII, p. 42. — Vanellus griseus. Id. p. 100, pi. 9, fig. 1, winter dress. 
— Vanellus varius. Id. p.103, pi. 9, fig. 2, young. — Tringa Helvetica, Lath. Ind. 
Oi n. p. 728, No. 10, summer dress of the adult. — T. squalarola. Id. p. 729, JVo. 
11, winter plumage. — Le Vanneau varie, Buff. PI. Enl. 923, winter dress. — 
Le Vanneau gris, Id. 854, young. — Le Vanneau suisse, Id. 853, summer dress of 
adult. — Gray Sandpiper, Aret. Zool. No. S93. — Siviss Sandpiper, Id. Afo. 396. — 
Brilish Zool. No. 191. — Edwards hi, pi. 140. — Vanellus melanozasier, Bech- 
STEIN, IV, p. 356.— Lath. Srjn. iii, p. 167, No. 10; p. 168, No. 11; p. 169, 
Var. A. — Id.Supp. p. 248.— Temm. Man. d'Orn. 549. 
