PLOVERS 105 



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

 black. Adults in winter : black replaced by buffy gray. Young : like 

 winter adult, but with buffy edgings to feathers of back. Length : 6.25- 

 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. ^Idults 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 winter : black replaced by dusky gray. Young : similar to winter 

 adults, but with feathers of back tipped with white. Length : 6.25-7.00, 

 wing- 4.20-4.:J(), bill about .60, tarsus .5)0-1.05. 



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

 sas, and Te.xas ; south in winter to Chili ; breeding- over most of its United 

 States range. 



Nest. — A slig-ht depression in the sand. Eggs : 3, dull light buff, 

 spotted with dark brown and black. 



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

 themselves in the air and on the water, the plump little snow^y plover 

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

 ened, he droi)s 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. -ffigialitis wilsonia (Ord). Wilson Plover. 



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

 and witliont yellow on I'ump or upper tail coverts. ^Idult male: upper 

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

 forehead. sujxMciliary line, collar, and rest of under parts white, .\dult 

 /'female : black of male replaced l)y l)rownish gray, more or less tinged 

 with rusty. Young : similar to fenude, but fcatliers of upper parts mar- 

 gined with grayish. Length : 7.50-7.1M), wing- 4.50, bill .SO, tarsus 1.25. 



liemarLs. — The Wilson plover may be disting-ui.shed from the other 

 small pK)vers by its much longer bill. 



Distribution. — Coasts and islands from southern California and Long- 

 Ishuid south to l>ra/il and Tern. Casual to Nova IScotia. 



Subgenus Podasocys. 



281. -fficfialitis montana (Towns.). Mountain Plover. 



\V\\\ sb'Mcb-r ; tail less than half as long- as wing ; chest witliont band ; 

 nifcti'd by ba.sal web. .Idults in summer: 

 u])p«'r parts i)lain grayish or buffy brown ; 

 undrr parts white or buffy ; foreliead and 

 lint' over eye white ; front »'dgc of crown 

 and streak in front of eye, black. .\dul(s 

 in winter: without pure white or black 



