BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
163 
and associate with the numerous multitudes then returning from 
their breeding places in the north. At this season they abound 
on the plains of Long Island. They have a loud whistling note; 
often fly at a great height; and are called by many gunners 
along the coast, the Black-bellied Kildeer. The young of the 
first year have considerable resemblance to those of the Golden 
Plover; but may be easily distinguished from this last by the 
largeness of their head and bill, and in being at least two inches 
more in length. The greater number of those which I have 
examined have the rudiments of a hind toe; but the character 
and manners of the Plover are so conspicious in the bird, as to 
determine, at the first glance, the tribe it belongs to. They con- 
tinue about tbe seacoast until early in November, when they 
move off to the south. 
This same bird, Mr. Pennant informs us^ inhabits all the 
north of Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and Hudson’s Bay, and 
all the arctic part of Siberia. It is said, that at Hudson’s Bay 
it is called the Hawk’s-eye, on account of its brilliancy. It ap- 
pears, says the same author, in Greenland in the spring, about 
the southern lakes, and feeds on worms and berries of the heath. 
This species is twelve inches long, and twenty -four inches in 
extent; the bill is thick, deeply grooved on the upper mandible 
an inch and a quarter in length, and of a black colour; the head 
and globe of the eye are both remarkably large, the latter deep 
bluish black; forehead white; crown and hind-head black, spot- 
ted with golden yellow; back and scapulars dusky, sprinkled 
with the same golden or orange coloured spots, mixed with 
others of white; breast, belly and vent black; sides of the breast 
whitish; wing quills black, middle of the shafts white; greater 
coverts black, tipt with white; lining of the wing black; tail re- 
gularly barred with blackish and pure white; tail-coverts pure 
white; legs and feet a dusky lead colour; the exterior toe joined 
to the middle by a broad membrane; hind toe very small. 
From the length of time which these birds take to acquire 
their full colours, they are found in very various stages of plu- 
mage. The breast and belly are at first white, gradually appear 
