M. MELODA VAR. CIRCUMCINCTA, PIPING PLOVER. 455 



marked specimens resembling the egg of JE. meloda. Compared with 

 Killdeer's eggs, the markings are more detiuite, averaging huger and 

 bolder, with little of the scratchiness observable in the latter. The 

 largest Eingneck's egg does not equal the smallest Killdeer's, being only 

 1.40 by 0.95, and thence running down to 1.20 by 0.90. A few obscure 

 shell-markings may usually be observed. 



^GIALITIS MELODA var. CIRCUMCINCTA, Ridgw. 

 Piping Plover; Ring PiOTcr. 



a. meloda. 



Charadriiis hiaticida var., WiLS., Am. Oru. v, 1812, 30, pi. 37, f. 2. 



Cluiradrius inelodus, Ord, ed. Wils. vii, 1824, 71.— Bp., Am. Orn. iv, 1832, 74, pi. 24.— 

 NUTT., Man. ii, 1834, 18.— Aud., Oru. Biog. iii, 1835, 154; v, 1839, 578; pi. 220; 

 B. Am. V, 1842, 223. pi. 321.— Putn., Pr. Ess. lust, i, 1856, 216.— Scill., M.P.-B. 

 1865, Citrsores,29.—Gii\Y, Hand-list, 1871, 16, No. 10010.— Fixsch, Abh.Nat.iii, 

 1872, 62 (Alaska). 



Charadrius {jEgialitis) melodus, Ridgw., Ann. Lye. N. Y. x, 1874, 383(Illinois). 



jEgialUis melodus. Bp., Comp. List, 1838, 45.— Cab., J. f. O. iv, 18.56, 424 (Cuba).— Bd., 

 B. N. A. 1858, 695.— Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. vii, 1859 (Bahamas).— ScL., P. Z. S. 

 1861, 80 (Jamaica).— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 173.— Wheat., Ohio Agiic. Rep. 1860, 

 No. 194.— Veru., Pr. Ess. Inst, iii, 1862, 22 (coast of Maine, breeding).— Boakdm., 

 Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 123 (breeds).— Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1868, 122.— McIlwr., 

 Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1866, 92.— Coues, ibid, v, 1868, 292.— Turnb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 

 29.— Mayn., Nat. Guide, 1870, 39.— Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 355.— Coues, 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. 1871, 28.— Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 10.— Coues, Key, 1872, 244. 



j^gialetis melodus, Allen, Pr. Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 86. 



Charadrius okeni, Wagl., Syst. Av. 1827. 



b. circumcincta. 



Mgialiiis melodus var. circumeinctus, Ridgw., Am. Nat. viii, 1874, 109. — CoUES, Check- 

 list, App. p. 133, No. 400*. 



flfl&.— United States and British Provinces, east of the Rocky Mountains (beyond 

 which apparently replaced by ^. cantiana). Abundant along the Atlantic coast of 

 the United State's, breeding north to the St. Lawrence, aud wintering from the Caro- 

 linas southward. Cuba. Bahamas. Jamaica. Var. circumcincta from the Missouri 

 region. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition.— 90.i8, 9034-5, 9038-9, Fork of the Platte (types of 

 var. circumcincta). 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition or the later ones. 



As observed sometime since by Mr. Cassin, Dr. Hayden's specimens are in full breed- 

 ing dress, with the black pectoral band complete, instead of forming, as in most in- 

 stances, an area on either side of the breast. This is the basis of Mr. Ridgway's new 

 variety. This condition, aud the date of collection (July 8), warrant the inference 

 that the species breeds in Nebraska — a surmise not yet coufiriiied, but strengthened by 

 the general facts of the distribution of the species. For, unlike its near relative (^. 

 semipatmata), the Piping Plover does not proceed to high latitudes to breed, being 

 quite unknown in the fur countries, and, indeed, in British America, excepting the 

 portions immediately bordering the United States. It is content to find its summer 

 homo in the northern half of the United States, especially along the Atlantic coast 

 from New Jersey to the St. Lawrence. I tliiuk tiiat though some breed so far .south 

 as the Carolina.s, the fact escai)ed me during the two years I spent on the coa.st, 

 at Fort Macon, paying much attention to the ornithology of tlu' locality. There the 

 Pi|)ing Plovers were chielly migrants, coming aud going with the Semipalniated, 

 aud were not nearly so abundant. It is noted as a common summer bird of the New 

 England coast, aud is said to breed in al)un<lance along the shores of Maine. The 

 nest, which I have not myself oljserved, is stated to be made preferably along the sea- 

 beach of the main land and adjoining islands, anil to be merely a slight liollow of 

 the.sand, liueil or not with a few gras.ses or bits of sea-weed. Tliis is somewhat dif- 

 ferent from the niditieatiou of the Semiiialniated Plover, whicli selects a, mossy or 

 grassy spot away from tlu^ beach; and entirely like the Wilsoiiiau Plover. 



The eggs of the Piping Plover may bo distinguished at a glance from those of the 

 Ringneck by their light coUu- aud line, spar.so speckling. The ground is clay -color, or 

 pjilcst possible creamy-brown, marked nearly uuilbrnily all over, but sparsely, with 



