The Black-bellied Plover 
The association of species, “mixed companies,” is a familiar feature 
of Shore-bird life, and the Black-bellied Plover is one of the most sociable 
of the friendly family. In their local movements they will tolerate any of 
the lesser sorts, but their preference for the Sanderling is rather marked, 
especially in the case of a single bird. The little urchins troop at the 
heels of their larger protector and dog his steps, when one would suppose 
that he would far rather enjoy the company of his own kind. But the 
Beetle-head appears to accept his responsibility good-naturedly, and it is 
probable that the schoolboy rout and its chosen leader do off great dis¬ 
tances together. The Black-bellied Plover, also, is the only Shore-bird 
I know which will not give heed to the extravagant alarms of the Kill- 
deer. Squatarola forms his own judgments of right and wrong, and acts 
accordingly. 
The note of this Plover is a drawling and somewhat melancholy 
whistle, we'-u-we or hee'-oo-ee, descending to a lower pitch in the second 
note, and returning with a softer utterance on the last. This liquid 
sound, for all of its mournful tinge, is one of the sweetest in nature; and 
it takes no stretch of the imagination to picture a wooing conducted in 
such dulcet tones. But in the South, this note is usually heard just 
before or immediately after the birds take wing, and is evidently a note 
BATTALION DRILL 
THE REVIEWING OFFICERS ARE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, WHILE SANDERLINGS ARE THE SOLDIERS 
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