316. 1. Charadrius Helveticus, Linn. Black-bellied Plover.--Bull-head. Ox-eye.
An extremely diminutive hind toe; bill and feet black. In summer, the upper parts variegated with black, yellowish-brown, and white, the feathers being tipped with the latter; forehead yellowish-white, the rest of the head and hind neck greyish-white, spotted with dusky; hind part of rump, upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers white, transversely barred with brownish-black, the tail tipped with white, and having four dark bars on the middle feathers, and seven or eight on the outer webs of the rest; primary quills and coverts brownish-black, the latter terminally margined with white; shafts of the primaries about the middle, and part of the inner webs toward the base, white; inner six with a white patch on the outer web toward the base, and margined with white externally; outer secondary feathers white at the base, and margined with the same; inner dusky, with marginal triangular white spots; a narrow ring round the eye, and a broad longitudinal band on each side of the neck, together with the abdomen and lower tail-coverts, white; loral space, cheeks, fore part of neck, breast, and axillar feathers, black. In winter, the upper parts spotted with pale yellow, the lower greyish-white, the throat, neck, and sides streaked with dusky, the axillars black. Young pale brownish-yellow, mottled with dusky, rump whitish. After the second moult, the upper parts brownish-black, spotted with white, some of the spots yellow; fore part and sides of neck and body, greyish-white, mottled with brownish-grey, the rest of the lower parts white.
From Texas along the coast to the northern extremity of the Continent. Breeds from Virginia northward. Not abundant.
Tringa helvetica and Squatarola, Linn. Syst. Nat p. 250, 252.
Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 41. Summer.
Charadrius helveticus, Bonap. Syn. p. 298.
Grey Lapwing, Vanellus melanogaster, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 370.
Black-bellied or Swiss Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 26.
Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 280.
317. 2. Charadrius marmoratus, Wagler. American Golden Plover.