EUDEOMIAS MONTANUS, MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 



457 



j^gialiiis montanus, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 093.— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 1800, 

 231.— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 173.— Dress., Ibis, 1866, 33 (San Antonio, Texas). - 

 Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 181.— Aiken, Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 1872, 209. - 

 Snow, B. Kaus. 1873, 9, No. 209. 



Podasoci/s montanus, Coues, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 96.— Elliot, B. N. A. ii, pi. 39. 



Charadrius (Podasocys) montanus, Gray, Hand-list, iii, 1871, 15, No. 9997. 



xEyialitis asiaticus var.* montanus, Coues, Key, 1872, 245. 



Eudromias montanus, Hauting. — Coues, Check-list, App. No. 402. 



Hah. — Western United States, from the plains of Middle Kansas and Nebraska, and 

 Western Dakota, to the Pacific. Texas (Dresser). Also, Florida (Maynaid). 



List of specimens. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 9043-44, Loup Fork of the Platte. 

 Later Expeditions. — 59866, Middle Park, Colorado {Stevenson). 



Altboujj^b this beautiful and interesting bird is strictly a western 

 species, still its range is more extensive tlian was formerly supposed, 

 both in latitude and longitude. No one has found it, so far as I am 

 aware, north of the United States boundarj-, but it probably penetrates 

 some little way, at least, into the British possessions, while, on the other 

 hand, it enters Mexico, and may even, as Mr. Cassin surmises, migrate 

 into South America in winter. But this is not yet determined. Its 

 Eastern limit is pretty nearly ascertained. The farthest point recorded 

 is the vicinity of Fort Hays, near the centre of Kansas, where Mr. Alien 

 found it "moderately common," and it is known to occur in Nebraska 

 in a corresponding longitude. Further north, however, its range seems 

 to trend somewhat westward, for I never saw it in the eastern half of 

 Dakota, over much of which I have traveled, nor in the northern i)art 

 east of 1030. We have, nevertheless, a record of its occurrence and 

 breeding in Southwestern Dakota, in the vicinity of the Black Hills. 

 From the region thus indicated it may be found, in suitable situations, 

 to the Pacific coast. 



The name of "Mountain Plover" does not appear to be well chosen, 

 further than as an expression of very general import. Though found 

 on highly elevated plateaux, it is not a bird of the mountains, but of 

 the plains. While most other Plovers haunt the vicinity of water, to 

 which some are almost confined, the present species is not in the least 

 degree of aquatic habits, but, on the contrary, resorts to plains as dry 

 and sterile as any of our country — sometimes the grassy prairies, with 

 Shore Larks and Titlarks, various Ground Sparrows, and the Burrowing 

 Owl; sometimes sandy deserts, where the sage brush and the "cliamizo,"' 

 the prickly pear and the Spanish bayonet, grow in full luxuriance. It 

 approaches the Pacific, but will never be found on the beach itself, with 

 maritime birds, nor even on the adjoining mud-tlats or marshes, prefer- 

 ring the firm, grassy fields further back from the water. 



*It appears from Mr. Hartiuf^'s recent critical article on Charadrius asiaticus (lh\a, 

 1870, 201, pi. .')), th.'it I may hav(? too hastily united our montana with that sjiefies — a 

 counsc in whieii I relied upon Prof. Sehlegel's aniliority, not havin-r the opportiniity of 

 a direct comparison of specimens. As meiitiom d in the Check-list, the bird .should 

 probably stand as Eudromias monlanun. (Compare, however, FiNscir, Ibis, l'>72, p. 144.) 



I have only recently had an opportunity of examinin<r the species in perfect dress. 

 Then; is no pectoral band of black, but a Itroad, traiisvei'se, coronal, black bamf vary- 

 ing width (sometimes occupying half the pilcnm, sometimes a mere line), and another 

 sharji, bbii'k, loral line separating tiie white foreliea<l and super<'iliary stripe from the 

 white of tln^ chin and throat. There is a little (x^liraceous edging of the feathers of the 

 upper parts, and a similar shade Biiffuses the breast. 



