Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/638

 618 PLOVER rather slender ; the outer and middle toes more or less united at the base, the hind toe want- ing or very small ; claws compressed and curv- ed ; the head is very large, the neck short and thick, and the folded wings reach beyond the tail. The genus vanellus (Linn.) has been de- scribed under LAPWING. In the genus chara- drius (Linn.) the bill is shorter than the head, strong and straight ; the first quill the longest ; hind toe wanting. The prevailing color is yellowish gray, spotted; the tail transversely banded ; no collar on the neck ; tarsi and low- er thighs uniformly reticulated ; legs bluish green. They are usually seen in small flocks near the sea, in the summer often going in- land ; the food consists of small insects, mol- lusks, worms, and berries, and is usually sought in the evening or at night; they are strong and rapid fliers, though for short distances, and fast runners; the note is a plaintive whistle easily imitated. The nest is a slight hollow in the sand, lined with dried grass, and the eggs, Golden Plover (Charadrius Virginicus). commonly four, are placed with the small ends together ; the young leave the nest as soon as hatched ; if disturbed on or near the nest, the parent birds use various devices to lead the in- truder from it, pretending lameness or inabil- ity to fly. The golden plover (C. Virginicus, Borck.) is about 10 in. in length and 22 in alar extent ; in the male the upper parts are brownish black, with numerous spots of gold- en yellow, on the upper tail coverts generally assuming the form of transverse bands; entire under parts in the breeding season black with a brownish bronzed lustre ; bill black. After the autumnal moult the black of the under parts gives place to light grayish with dark- er spots and streaks. It is found all over North America, and in South America, north- ern Asia, and Europe; it is called bullhead and field plover ; it breeds in the north, going south in winter. It very much resembles the European golden plover (C. plumalis, Linn.), except that the axillaries in the latter are white instead of ashy ; the eggs are said to be delicious, as also are the young and old birds. The dotterel of Europe (C. morinellus, Linn.;, very common, is blackish ash with a white band behind the eyes and another above the breast; breast and flanks reddish brown, and end of tail white. Boie separated from cfyara- drius the genus cegialitis, comprising several smaller species, with lighter and uniform un- spotted plumage, with neck and head general- ly banded with dark, and without continuous black on the abdomen. The five following plovers belong to this genus of Boie. The kil- deer (C. vociferus, Linn.) has been noticed un- der that title. Wilson's plover (C. Wilsonius, Ord) is about Yi in. long and 14 in alar ex- tent; bill 1 in., robust; entire under plumage, forehead, and stripe over eye, white; band of black above the white one on forehead ; wide transverse band on breast brownish black ; up- per parts light ashy brown ; a ring of white around the back of neck ; bill black and legs yellow. In the female there is not the black on the forehead, and the pectoral band is red- dish and ashy brown. It is found on the At- lantic coast of the middle and southern states and in Brazil ; it is a constant resident in the south, and breeds there, sometimes going as far north as Long Island ; the breeding sea- son commences about June 1 ; the eggs are 1 by 1 in., dull cream-colored, with a few pale purple dots and dark brown spots ; it is very plump in autumn, and is excellent for the table; it feeds both by night and day. The ring plover {C. semipalmatm, Bonap.) is a little smaller than the last, light ashy brown above, tinged with olive; under parts, front, throat, and ring around the neck, white; a black band across the breast, extending around the back of the neck below the white ring ; bill orange, black-tipped, and legs yellow ; female similar, but lighter ; young without the black frontal band, and the pectoral band ashy brown. It is found throughout temperate North America, and is common on the Atlan- tic coast ; it breeds in the north, in Labrador about June 1, in rocky mossy districts in the interior ; the nest is a cavity in the moss, sheltered from the north winds and exposed to the sun, near the pools formed by the melting snow ; it goes south about the middle of Au- gust ; the flesh of the young bird is juicy and tender ; it associates with other birds of simi- lar habits, and is not at all shy. The piping plover (C. melodus, Ord) is about as large as the last, but of a much lighter brown, almost ashy, the feathers with a whitish edging ; there is no black band from the bill through and un- der the eye ; the white collar around neck and the black frontal and pectoral bands less, the latter usually not meeting in front ; rump and upper tail coverts almost white ; tail white at base, tipped with black. It is found through- out eastern North America, as far as Nebraska occasionally, and in the southern states; it breeds all along the sandy coasts from Labra- dor to Florida ; it rarely goes .far inland, and