266 PLOVERS 
274. <£EgiaIitis semipalmata (. Bonap .). Semipalmated Plover. (Figs 
42 d, 43e.). Ads. in summer. — Feathers at base of upper mandible, front 
of crown, sides of head below eye, and a band on breast, which generally 
encircles the neck all around, black; rest of underparts and a ring around the 
neck white; back of head and back brownish gray; inner tail-feathers brown- 
ish gray, outer ones becoming gradually white; toes webbed at the base. Win- 
ter plumage. — Similar, but black 
replaced by brownish gray. 
L., 6*75; W., 4*80; Tar., *90; 
B., -50. 
Range. — N. and S. A. 
Breeds from Melville Island, 
Wellington Channel and Cum- 
berland Sound to the valley of 
the Upper Yukon, s. Macken- 
zie, s. Keewatin, and Gulf of 
St. Lawrence; winters from s. 
L. Calif., La., and and S. C., 
to Patagonia, Chile, and the 
Galapagos; casual in Siberia, 
Greenland, and Bermuda. 
Washington, rare T. V., 
May; Aug.-Sept. Long Island, 
abundant T. V., Apl. 29-June 
4; July 15- Aug. 8. Ossining, 
common T. V., in fall; Aug. 
23-Sept. 20. Cambridge, rare 
in spring; sometimes common 
in Aug. and Sept. N. Ohio, common T. V., May 5-25; Aug. 25-Sept. 20. 
SE. Minn., common T. V., May 23; Sept. 15. 
Eggs , 3-4, buffy white or creamy buff, spotted with chocolate, 1*30 x *90. 
Date , Ungava Bay, Lab., June 10. 
Fig. 83. Semipalmated Plover. (Natural size.) 
This species frequents sandy beaches, mud-flats, and marshes. It 
is found generally in small flocks of five or ten individuals, which, 
unlike the Semipalmated Sandpipers, do not feed in a compact body, 
but run rapidly about, independently of one another. When they take 
wing, however, they close ranks at once and move as though governed 
by one desire. Their simple, sweet, plaintive call is one of the most 
characteristic notes heard on our shores. At noonday, when the heat 
waves are dancing over the marshes and even the twittering Oxeyes are 
silent, one may hear the cool, pure notes of this little Plover. They may 
be written 
A third, shorter note is sometimes added. 
Even a whistled imitation of them takes me to the beaches. 
277. iEgialitis rneloda ( Ord ). Piping Plover. Ads. in summer . — 
Upperparts pale whitish ashy; forehead, underparts, and a ring around the 
neck white ; front of the crown and a band on either side of the breast, some- 
times complete, black; inner tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones becoming 
white. Winter plumage. — Similar, but black replaced by brownish gray. 
L., 7*00; W., 4*75; Tar., *85; B., ‘50. 
Range . — E. N. Am. Breeds locally from s. Sask., s. Ont., Magdalen 
Islands, and N. S. s. to cen. Nebr., nw. Ind., Lake Erie, N. J. (probably), 
and Va. ; winters on the coast of the U. S. from Tex. to Ga., and in n. Mex.; 
casual in migration to N. F., the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Bermuda. 
