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,S'lECIES 6 . CHl/?IJLD1?US dPRICdRIUS. &
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
[Plate LVII. -Fig. 4.]
/luagrini Plover, Fact. Zool. p. 483, .Nlo. 398.-Le Pluvier dor?
a gorge noire, BUFF. VIII, 85.-PEALE'S Museum, So. 4196.
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 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 broods 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 ber-
ries, 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 seacoast,
* Chharadrius Helveticus, BONAPARTE, Journal Acad. Nat. Sc. v, p. 103. /nn.
Lyc. Ii p.298-VanellusHelveticusBuiss. v,p. 107,pl. 10. fig. 1. Summer dress.
ORD's reprint, viI, p. 42.-Janellusgriseus, Id. p. 100, p1. 9, fig. 1, winter
dress.
-Vanellus varius, Id. p. 103, pl. 9, fig. 2, young.-Tringa Ilelveticca, LATH.
Iad.
OM n. p. 728, No. 10, summer dress of the adult.-T. squatarola, Id. p. 729,
Ad.
II, winter plumage.-Le Vanneau varie, BUFF. PI. Eni. 923, winter dress.-
Le Vanneau gris, id. 854, young.-Le Vanneau suisse, Id. 853, summer dress
of
adult.-Gray Sandpiper, Arct. Zool. No. 393.-Swiss Sandpiper, Id. Xlo. 396.-
British Zool. No. 191.-EDWARDS III, P1. 140.-Yanellus mnelanozaster, BE1d-
STEIN, IV, P. 356.-LATH. Syn. iII, P. 167, No. 10; P. 168, No. 11; P. 169,
Var. A.-Id. Stpp. p. 248.-TE'MM. iian d'0on. 549.