770 



SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — LIMICOL^. 



-^^ 



editions of the Key; V. vanellus, A. 0. U. No. [269]. This bird fiiniishes a large part of the 

 Plover's eggs of commerce, so prized by epicures. Professor Newton estimates that 800,000 



a year have been sent from Hol- 

 land into England ; and tliat 

 many eggs of the Black-headed 

 Gull, various Terns, Redshanks, 

 and Golden Plover are also sold 

 and eaieu under the same name 

 (Diet. p. 504). 



SQUATAR'OLA. (Ital. squata- 

 rola, name of the species. Fig. 

 519.) Four-toed Plover. A 

 small but distinct hind toe, con- 

 trary to the rule in tliis family. 

 Tail less than ^ as long as wing. 

 Tarsus much longer than middle 

 toe and claw. Tibia bare below, 

 reticulate like the tarsus. Basal 

 web between outer and middle 

 toes. Legs dark-colored. Upper 

 plumage speckled, lower black 

 or white ; no rings or bars of color 

 about head or neck. Tail fully 



Fig. 517. — Crested Lapwing 



(From Seebohm's Charadriidse.) 



barred. Axillaries black. No crest. Seasonal changes of plumage very great ; sexes alike. 

 Excepting the hallux, this genus is identical with Charadrius proper. (Charadrius by error, 

 A. 0. U. Lists, 1886-95, cor'rected 1897.) 

 S. squatar'ola. (Figs. 518, 519, 520.) 

 Gray Plover. Swiss Plover. 

 Black-bellied Plover. Black- 

 breast. Bull -HEAD Plover. 

 Beetle - head. Chuckle - PIead. 

 hollow^-head. owl-head. whist- 

 LING Plover. Ox-eye. May-cock. 

 Pilot. cJ 9 , in summer: Upper parts 

 fretted with blackish and ashy-white, 

 the feathers being white basally, then 

 black, tipped and usually scalloped 

 with white. Upper tail-coverts mostly 

 white, with few dark touches. Fore- 

 head, line over eye and thence more 

 broadly over side of neck, lining of 

 wings, tibiae, vent, and under tail- 

 coverts, white. Sides of head to an ex- 

 tent embracing eyes, axillary plumes, 

 and entire under parts (except as said), 

 black. Tail closely barred with black 

 and white. Primaries dark brown, 

 blackening at tips, with large basal 

 areas and a portion of their shafts, white. Bill and feet black. Length 11.00-12.00; 

 ■wing 7.00-7.50; tail 3.00 ; bill 1.00-1.25 ; tarsus 2.00; middle toe and claw 1.33; tibitebare 



Fig. 518 — Gray Plover. (From Seebohm's Charadriidce.) 



