<h2>THE SEMI-PALMATED RING PLOVER.</h2>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/imgi.png" width-obs="39" height-obs="80" alt="I" title="" /></div>
<p>N THEIR habits the Plovers are
usually active; they run and
fly with equal facility, and
though they rarely attempt to
swim, are not altogether unsuccessful
in that particular.</p>
<p>The Semi-palmated Ring Plover
utters a plaintive whistle, and during
the nesting season can produce a few
connected pleasing notes. The three
or four pear-shaped, variagated eggs
are deposited in a slight hollow in the
ground, in which a few blades of grass
are occasionally placed. Both parents
assist in rearing the young. Worms,
small quadrupeds, and insects constitute
their food. Their flesh is regarded
as a delicacy, and they are therefore objects
of great attraction to the sportsman,
although they often render themselves
extremely troublesome by uttering
their shrill cry and thus warning their
feathered companions of the approach
of danger. From this habit they have
received the name of “tell-tales.” Dr.
Livingstone said of the African species:
“A most plaguey sort of public spirited
individual follows you everywhere,
flying overhead, and is most persevering
in his attempts to give fair warning
to all animals within hearing to
flee from the approach of danger.”</p>
<p>The American Ring Plover nests as
far north as Labrador, and is common
on our shores from August to October,
after which it migrates southward.
Some are stationary in the southern
states. It is often called the Ring Plover,
and has been supposed to be
identical with the European Ringed
Plover.</p>
<p>It is one of the commonest of shore
birds. It is found along the beaches
and easily identified by the complete
neck ring, white upon dark and dark
upon light. Like the Sandpipers the
Plovers dance along the shore in
rhythm with the wavelets, leaving
sharp half-webbed footprints on the
wet sand. Though usually found along
the seashore, Samuels says that on
their arrival in spring, small flocks
follow the courses of large rivers, like
the Connecticut. He also found a
single pair building on Muskeget, the
famous haunt of Gulls, off the shore of
Massachusetts. It has been found near
Chicago, Illinois, in July.</p>
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<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/img013.jpg" width-obs="600" height-obs="442" alt="image" title="" /> <span class="caption">ring plover.</span></div>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</SPAN></span></p>
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