BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 105 



nally, its basal angle rather prominent. Wing long and pointed, 

 the longest primary (outermost) exceeding distal secondaries by much 

 more than half the length of wing and extending decidedly beyond 

 tip of longest tertials. Tail decidedly less than half as long as wing, 

 slightly rounded or double-rounded, the lateral rectrices sHghtly 

 shorter than middle pair. Tarsus long and relatively slender, twice 

 as long as middle toe without claw, more than one-fourth as long -as 

 wing, covered with small hexagonal scales, these larger in front, 

 where on lower portion forming transverse scutella, those on planta 

 tarsi forming (at least sometimes) a single continuous series of small 

 transverse scales; outer toe decidedly shorter than middle toe, the 

 inner toe still shorter; a small web between basal phalanges of outer 

 and middle toes, but none between inner and middle toes; claws 

 very small and short, but rather strongly curved ; hallux absent. 



Coloration. — Adults with under parts immaculate dull white 

 shaded on sides of chest with brownish buff; forehead and abroad 

 supercihary stripe white; loral stripe and fore part of crown black; 

 rest of upper parts buffy grayish brown, the feathers more or less 

 distinctly margined with buff, the primaries, etc., dusky with outer 

 webs of proximal quills white basally. 



Range. — Arid plains of temperate western North America. (Mono- 

 typic.) 



PODASOCYS MONTANUS (J. K. Townsend). 



MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 



Adults in breeding 'plumage (sexes alike). — Forehead and super- 

 ciliary stripe white; a narrow loral stripe, from bill to eye, and a patch 

 on fore part of crown (sometimes covering whole crown) black; 

 rest of upper parts buffy grayish brown, usually more or less tinged 

 with bulf or ochraceous, the feathers more or less distinctly margined 

 with ochraceous or buffy; greater wing-coverts tipped with white; 

 primaries dusky with whitish shafts, the proximal quills with basal 

 portion of outer web white ; tail grayish brown, tipped with whitish and 

 crossed by a sub terminal band of darker grayish brown or dusky; 

 under parts (including lower portion of side of head) immaculate 

 dull white, more or less distinctly shaded on chest with pale buffy 

 grayish and, sometimes, tinged with buffy or ochraceous; bill black; 

 iris dark brown; legs and feet dull light brownish yellow (in life). 



Winter 'plumage. — Similar to the summer plumage, but black 

 loral streak and crown patch wanting (the latter replaced bj^ grayish 

 brown), and plumage in general more strongly suffused or tinged 

 with buff. 



Young. — Similar to winter adults but whole side of head and 

 neck, together with chest, deep creamy buff, and feathers of up])er 

 parts distinctly margined v.ith light buff. 



