GRALLjE — CHARADRIDJS — STREPSILAS. 215 



and neck finely striate with black and greenish olive ; sides of the head and neck brown and 

 grey. Flanks obscurely barred with dusky : abdomen dusky. Vent and under tail-coverts 

 white ; tail slightly tipped with rufous. In all other respects agreeing with the adult in its 

 spring dress. 



Length, 10-5- 12-0. Alar extent, 23-0. 



The large Whistling Plover, or Bull and Beetle-head Plover as it is called in its autumnal 

 dress, appears with us from the south in May, ranging from 26° to 70° north. It breeds 

 from Pennsylvania northwardly. It lays four cream-colored eggs, spotted and blotched with 

 light brown. Feeds on insects and berries. It passes through Long island in September, on 

 its way southwardly. It is common to Europe and America. Is closely allied to the Lap- 

 wing of Europe. 



(EXTRA-LIM1TAL.) 



S. townsendi, Aphriza? id. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 228, pi. 322.) Dark blackish grey. Rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and band across the wings white ; beneath dull greyish white : the breast some- 

 what darker. Male, unknown. Length, 1 1 inches. An Strepsilas ? Columbia river. 



GENUS STREPSILAS. Illiger. 



Bill shorter than the head, straight, in the form of an attenuated cone, flattish above, truncated 

 at the end. Nostrils basal, linear-oblong, half closed by a membrane. Feet moderate, 

 four-toed : a very small part of the tibia bare. Tarsus not longer than the middle toe, 

 rather robust. Toes divided to their origin ; hind toe touching the ground. Wings long 

 and pointed ; first quill longest. Tail moderate. 



