CHARADRIID.E — THE PLOVERS — PODASOCYS. 173 



and below, the black markings of the head wanting. Young, first jylumage : All the feathers of 

 the upper parts distinctly bordered with light buff; whole side of head and neck, and entire jugu- 

 luni, deep light creamy buff. Dovmij Young : Above brownish buff, mottled witli black, this form- 

 ing a distinct marbling on the crown and occiput, where the ground-color is lighter and clearer 

 buff. Lower parts jiale buff", immaculate. 



Total length, about 8 inches; wing, (j.OO ; tail, 2.75; culmen, .80-90; tarsus, 1.50-L60 ; 

 middle toe, .70. 



There is considerable individiial variation in the extent and distinctness of black on the head 

 in fully adult l)irds, some specimens having the whole crown black, while in others this color is 

 limited to a crescentic mark just behind the white of the forehead ; in some examples the black 

 loral stripe is barely indicated. 



The Kocky Mountain Plover, as Mr. Audubon, not very happily, lias designated 

 this species, has an extended distribution, from Arizona and Southwestern Texas on 

 the south, to our farthest boundaries on the north, and probably beyond, and from 

 Eastern Kansas and Nebraska to the grassy plains that border the Pacific itself. 

 It is of accidental occurrence in Florida. While in regard to its peculiar specific 

 habits, especially during the breeding-season, much remains to be learned, the last 

 few years have added greatly to our knowledge of its history. It is not entitled to 

 be regarded as a mountain bird, as it confines itself to high and dry level plains, and 

 is never to be met Avith nearer to mountains than their base. 



This bird was first described by Townsend in 1837, and the description of its 

 habits, briefly narrated by Xuttall, was quoted by Audubon in 1842. The former 

 author regarded the species as closely allied to Wilson's Plover. He met Avith it, 

 only during one or two days, on the central tablelands of the Eocky Mountains, in 

 the plains near the last of the branches of the Platte ; and as it was in the month 

 of July, he had no doubt that the bird Avas breeding in the Subalpine regions. The 

 only individual obtained Avas seen skulking and running through the artemisia bushes 

 that so generally clothe those arid and dry wastes. After running some time, it 

 would remain perfectly still, as if conscious of the difficulty of distinguishing it from 

 the gray soil on Avhich it stood, and Avith the color of which its OAvn was so nearly 

 identical. All that Avere seen Avere similar to the specimen obtained, but none could 

 be induced, on being flushed, to take Aving. He heard from it no note or cry of 

 complaint of any kind, and 'it apparently sought by silence to conceal its young or 

 its eggs. 



We are indebted to Dr. J. G. Cooper ('■ Am. Xat." III. p. 183) for our first full and 

 accurate account of the habits and distribution of this species. Dr. Cooper mentions 

 meeting Avith it on his route from Los Angeles, Cal., to Fort Mohave. The birds 

 Avere running in scattered flocks over the driest tracts, or A\dieeling in SAvift columns 

 around the sportsman, their Avhite under parts shining like snoAvflakes as they 

 turned AA'hile on the Aving, in the manner of their more aquatic cousins of the sea- 

 shore. The same Avriter afterward speaks ("Am. ISTat." III. ]). 298) of finding this 

 PloA^er on the plains of the Upper Missouri, in the driest spots and among the villages 

 of the prairie-dog. In ^Montana Dr. Cooper found it rare along the eastern base of 

 the Rocky Mountains. There also they Avere usually met with about the prairie-dog 

 villages ; but they apparently did not cross the mountains in as large numbers as they 

 do farther south. 



Dr. Cooper also states that this species belongs almost exclusively to the vast 

 deserts and plains of the central parts of Xorth America, only visiting the vicinity 

 of the sea-coast in the Avet season. They are found in the extensive plains near Los 

 Angeles after the middle of October, but are not knoAvn to be there in the summer. 



