BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
333 
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.— CHARADRIUS APRICARIUS. 
Plate LVII. Fig. 4. 
Alwagrim Plover, Arct. Zool. p. 483, No. 398 Le pluvier dor6 a gorge noire, Buff. 
viii. 85. — Peak's Museum , No. 4196. 
SQUATAROLA CINEREA.— Fleming.* 
Pluvialis cinerea, Will. Orn. 229. — Gray Squatarol, Squatarola grisea, Steph. Cont. 
Sh. Zool. vol. xi. p. 505. — Le vanneau gris, Cuv. Reg. Anim. vol. i. p. 467. — 
Squatarola cinerea, Flem. Br. Zool. p. 3. — Vanellus melanogaster, North. Zool. 
ii. p. 370. 
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 
* This species, with some others, forms the division Vanneau pluviers, the 
genus Squatarola of Cuvier, and, according to modern ornithologists, has been 
separated from the Charadrii, on account of the presence of a hinder toe. 
In the arrangement of this group, as in many others, I fear the characteristic 
marks have been taken in a manner too arbitrary. Those birds known by the 
name of Plovers form a small but apparently distinct group; they contain 
the C. pluvialis, Virginianus, Sfc. and, but for the rudimentary toe, the Gray 
Plover would also enter it : they agree in their manners, their incubation, and 
changes of plumage. We, again, have another well defined group, which is called 
the Dotterels, agreeing in similar common habitudes ; but, in one species, 
bearing according to arrangement the name of Squatarola, we have all the 
marks and form of plumage, but the hinder toe much developed. It there- 
fore becomes a question, whether the presence or want of this appendage 
should be brought into the generic character, (as it always has been,) or should 
be looked upon as one of the connections of forms. In the latter way the 
Plovers should form the genus Squatarola, the Dotterels Charadrius, and the 
two birds in question be placed opposite in their respective circles. 
Vanellus, or the Lapwings, again, form another group, as well marked in 
their different habits, and intimately connected with Pluvianus ; neither of 
these, however, have any representative in North America. 
Many Gray Plovers breed in the English fens, and, like the migratory 
Sandpipers, flocks appear on the shores, at the commencement of winter, where 
they mingle with the other species. The plate is that of the summer or 
breeding plumage. — Ed. 
