440 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Family CHAExVDEIID^ : The Plovers. 



159. ^gialitis niontana, (Towns.). — MonuUdn I'lover. 



Tlii.s species, knowu liere as tlie "Bull-head Snipe," usually arrives at 

 Stockton and Marys vi lie in November, and I have seen a few in Octo- 

 ber. It frequents the dry plains, but is oftener found in fields that have 

 been* prepared for or sown with wheat than any other localities. It 

 sometimes visits the low, rollin,ii', gravelly hills to the east of the valley, 

 and is often abundant, especially previous to the severe rains of winter. 

 Some winters, however, I have not seen it at all in California. It was 

 unusually abuiulant at Stockton in December, 1878. 



'160. ^gialiti.s voclfjrn, (Linn.). — IDU-dccr Plover. 



The Kill-deer is a common resident of the valleys and foot-hiUs. I 

 have not seen it liiyher u[) than Murphy's. 



Family EECTJUVlROSTRIDiE : The Avocets and Stilts. 



161. Rec'-irvirostra americana, Gm. — American Arocet. 



The Avocet is very rare in the interior valleys. It is occasionally 

 seen at Marysville in spring. I have not yet observed it at Stockton. 



*162. Himantopus mexicauus, (Miiller). — Black-necked Slilt. 



The Stilt is a eonnnon summer resident at Stockton. It was first seen 

 here April 13, 1878, and had left by September 7. It breeds both here 

 and in Sutter Countv. 



7C633 ? ad. 



^Stockton . I Apr. 13, 187 



Family SCOLOPACID.^ : The Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 



163. Gallinago wilsoni, (Tcnnn.). — JlUson'ti Snijye. 



This bird is a common winter resident of Central California, being 

 found in suitable localities in the foot-hills as high up as Murphy's. It 

 sometimes remains as late as May 15, and was seen at Stockton as early 

 this year as Se])tember 7. 



A few are sai<l to breed here, but this is very doubtful. 



74-287 I — ad.] Stocktou I Spriuj;-, 1S7S 



7GG38 — ad. do I Oct. —,1878 



164. Macrorhamplius griseus, (Gmel.). — Iled-hreasted Snipe. 



This bird was first seen at Stockton April 20, 1878. The first seen in 

 the following fall was on November 5. It is sometimes, though rarely, 

 quite common, but it appears to be very irregular in its movements. 



Stockton Apr. 25,1878 



■ - - do Apr. 25, 1878 



rto Kov. 5,1878 



