PLOVERS 105 



forehead, collar, and under parts white. Adult female in summer : duller 

 black. Adults in winter: black replaced by buffy g'ray. Young: like 

 winter adult, but with buffy edging's to feathers of back. Length : (5.25- 

 7.50, wing- 4.50-4.80, bill .45-.50. 



Distribution. Mississippi valley and north to Lake Winnipeg", west to 

 Cheyenne, Wyoming-, east occasionally to the Atlantic ; breeding from 

 Illinois and Nebraska northward, and wintering- on the Gulf coast and 

 southward. 



278. JEgialitis nivosa Cass. SNOWY PLOVER. 



Bill longer than middle toe without claw, slender, and entirely black. 

 Chest band reduced to a spot at each side of breast. Adults in summer : 

 crown and back pale buffy gray ; face and under parts white ; wide bar 

 across front of crown, ear patch, and spot at side of chest black. Adults 

 in ivinter : black replaced by dusky gray. Young : similar to winter 

 adults, but with feathers of back tipped with white. Length : 0.25-7.00, 

 wing 4.20-4.30, bill about .00, tarsus .90-1.05. 



Distribution. Western United States, east to western Nebraska, Kan- 

 sas, and Texas ; south in winter to Chili ; breeding over most of its United 

 States range. 



Nest. A slight depression in the sand. Eggs : 3, dull light buff, 

 spotted with dark brown and black. 



On the shores of Salt Lake while the great white gulls disport 

 themselves in the air and on the water, the plump little snowy plover 

 is trotting along the beach gathering his food as he goes. If fright- 

 ened, he drops into the deep footprint of a horse and is lost to view, 

 so well does his back match the dull gray surface. Though so small, 

 he is one of the most attractive bits of life in his big landscapes. 



Subgenus Ochthodromus. 



280. -33gialitis wilsonia (Orel). WILSON PLOVER. 



Much smaller than the killdeer, with but one black band across chest 

 and without yellow on rump or upper tail coverts. Adult male : upper 

 parts brownish gray, with black across front of crown, lores, and chest ; 

 forehead, superciliary line, collar, and rest of under parts white. Adult 

 female : black of male replaced by brownish gray, more or less tinged 

 with rusty. Young : similar to female, but feathers of upper parts mar- 

 gined with grayish. Length: 7.50-7.90. wing 4.50, bill .80, tarsus 1.25. 



Remarks. - - The Wilson plover may be distinguished from the other 

 small plovers by its much longer bill. 



Distribution. Coasts and islands from southern California and Long 

 Island south to Brazil and Peru. Casual to Nova Scotia. 



Subgenus Podasocys. 



281. -ZEgialitis montana (Towns.). MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 



Bill slender ; tail less than half as long as wing ; chest without band ; 

 middle and inner toes not connected by basal web. Adults in summer: 



upper parts plain grayish or buffy brown ; 

 under parts white or buffy ; forehead and 

 line over eye white ; front edge of crown 

 and streak in front of eye, black. Adults 

 Fig. 122. in winter : without pure white or black 



