644 THE SX( >\\N' l'l.< )\\-Ai. 



Coiiiparalivt'h' few l)inls of this sjiccies pass almit; the I'acilic L'nasl dur- 

 ing migrations. 'I'he\ l)ree(l C(.)nini(inly in Alaska, in the intei'ior and northern 

 portions, but are more likel\- to return south by tlie overland route, esijecially 

 east of the Rockies. The migrant birds, either singly or in small cnmpanies, 

 paitse wherever da\"break arrests their flight, on mud-tlats, gra\el bars, or 

 sand\- beaches. If ujion the shore of lake or ocean, they associate freely with 

 Sanderlings, and either pursue with thetn the retreating wa\e, or else retire 

 a little way to glean among the pebbles of tlie higher levels. 



The northern season is \'er)' short, and 1 ha\e seen adults southbound as 

 carlv as |ul\ i ^th, on Destruction Island. 



No. 256. 



SNOWY PLOVER. 



A. O. U. No. 278. /Egialitis nivosa Cassin. 



Description. — Adults in suiniiu-r: Somewhat similar to .7;. sciiiil^aliiiafa. Init 

 hill cntirch black, and black markings of head much reduced; upperparts pale 

 asliy gray, tiiige<l, especially on crown, with Inifty; wing-(|uills fuscous and black 

 with some ()Utcr(i|iping white on outer webs of inner primaries; greater coverts 

 and primary coverts ti])ped with whitish; a short black bar across crown not ex- 

 tending to eyes; a black post-ocular stripe curving downward behind auriculars ; 

 a touch of black on lores anteriorh- ; a transverse patch of black on each side of 

 breast {vestiges of the pectoral collar which marks other species); forehead 

 broadlv. sides of head, a cervical collar, and underparts. snowv white; bill and feet 

 black. The black of the female is less pure and that of both se.xes in winter is 

 replaced by grayish brown. I iiiniatiirr: Without black; the gray of upperparts 

 darker, varied by whitish eilges and tips; the black on sides of breast replaced by 

 color of back. Length of adult.- (i.2yj.2c, { \^X.X-\H4.j } ; wing 4.25 ( 108) ; bill 

 .60 ( 15.2) ; tarsus 1. 00 (25.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; bill blade; no pectoral band; extensive 

 white on head. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a depression in sand or beach shingle. lu/ys: 3 or 4, pale 

 dull huffy, speckled and spotted with dark brown and black. .\v. size, 1.21 x .^j 

 (30.8x22.1). Season: May-June; one brood. 



General Range. — I'nited States chiefl\' west of the Rock\- .Mountains, breed- 

 ing on Pacific Coast north to Washington ( ?). (jreat Salt Lake, .Atlantic and 

 Ciulf Coast in Florida, etc.; wintering in California, Texas, Cuba, etc., south to 

 Chili. 



Range in Washington. — \\cst Coast, one record ; possihly hreeds. 



Authorities. — Bo\\ les and Dawson, .\uk. \iil. X.W . ( )ct. ivoS, p. 484. 



Specimens. — B. 



