126 



PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



Mr. E. Browne mentions meeting with this bird on the sea-shore of Vancouver 

 Island, and quite a number of examples of this species were procured at Sitka, as 

 well as at Kadiak, by Mr. Bischoif. Others were taken by Mr. Bannister at St. 

 Michael's and at Xulato, on the Yukon and at Takehemut by Mr. Dall. 



Eggs of this species (Smithsonian Collection, 9, 377) obtained by Mr. Dall from 

 near the Yukon Kiver, June 16, 1868, vary greatly in their size, one measuring 1.58 

 by 1.15 inches, the other 1.85 by 1.19 inches. They are of an oblong pyriform shape, 

 their ground-color is a drab, strongly tinged with olivaceous, and very generally and 

 profusely marked with fine sprinklings of suffused spots and dottiugs. In the 

 smaller example these markings are larger and darker. 



Genus APHRIZA, Audubon. 



Aphriza, AuD. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 249 (type, Tringa virgata, Lath.). 



Char. Similar to Strepsilas ; but the bill quite different, and much resembling that of the 

 Plovers (GJiaradriidce) , the terminal portion of the culmen being much arched, the middle portion 

 depressed. Tail slightly emarginate ; lateral margin of the toes more distinct than in Strepsilas, 

 producing a broader, more sole-like under-surface. 



The single species of this genus has usually been associated with the Plovers ; but its affinities 

 appear to be much nearer to Strepsilas, with which it agrees very closely except in the characters 

 pointed out above. It differs essentially from all the various forms ranged under the Charadriidce 

 in the completely cleft toes, the large, nearly incumbent hallux, and the generally robust character 

 of the feet, which are even stouter than those of Strepsilas. 



Aphriza virgata. 



THE SURF BIRD. 



Tringa virgata, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 674. —Lath. Ind. Orn. IL 1790, 735. 



Aphriza virgata, Gray, Gen. B. IIL 1847, pi. cxlvii. — Cassix, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 698. — 



Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 509. — Coues, Key, 1872, 245 ; Check List, 1873, no. 403 ; 2d 



ed. 1882, no. 594. — RiDfiw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 511. 

 Tringa horealis, Gmel. S. N. L 1788, 674. 

 Aphriza Townsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog. Y. 1839, 249, pi. 428 : Synop. 1839, 226 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 228, 



pi. 322. 



