BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
13 
SUBGENUS II. — SQUATAROLA , CUVIER. 
198 . CHARADRIUB HELVETICUS, BONAPARTE. 
CHARADRIUS APRICA1UUS, WILSON. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
WILSON, PLATE LVII. FIG. IV EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This bird is known in some parts of the country by 
the name of the large whistling field plover. It gene- 
rally 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 brood 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 
berries, 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 sea coast, 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 w hich I 
have examined have the rudiments of a hind toe ; but 
the character and manners of the plover are so conspi- 
cuous in the bird, as to determine, at the first glance. 
