SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 471 



it has been reported from Santa Barbara as late as November 1, 1911 

 (Bowles and Howell, loc. cit.). Belding (MS) states that it was 

 tolerably common at San Diego in winter (year not stated, but prob- 

 ably 1884 or 1885), and Cooper (1887, p. 91) found it on the coast 

 of Ventura County "in winter"; but no recent observer has reported 

 the species from any California locality during the midwinter months. 

 Four instances of occurrence away from the seacoast are known, all 

 in the seasons of migration : Webber Lake, Sierra County, August 5, 

 1889 (Belding, ]\IS) ; near Caruthers, Fresno County, April 21, 1914 

 (Tyler, MS) ; Salton Sea, Imperial County, April 22, 1909 (specimens 

 in Mus. Vert. Zool.) ; and Julian, San Diego County, April 16, 1884 

 (Belding, MS). The northernmost coastwise record is Bodega Bay, 

 Sonoma County (Belding, MS). 



From other shore birds occurring in California the Semipalmated 

 Plover is easy to distinguish. Its small size, uniform brown-colored 

 upper surface at all times of the year, the single conspicuous black 

 or dark broAvn breast band, black or brown bordered white band across 

 brow, and extremely short bill, combine to make identification easy. 

 The Killdeer differs in its much larger size, two black breast bands, 

 tawny rump, and longer bill ; and the Snowy Plover in its slightly 

 smaller size, lighter upper surface, and in the lack of a complete black 

 collar. The Semii)almated Plover differs from the Wilson Plover in 

 having a shorter bill, orange at the base instead of wholly black, in 

 having the white brow separated from the bill by black or dark brown, 

 and in the possession of a complete black collar around its hind neck. 

 Its very short bill and the presence of a black or brown collar, as 

 Avell as its small size, distinguish the Semipalmated Plover from the 

 ]\Iountain Plover. The name Ring Plover has been often used for the 

 Semipalmated, with evident propriety ; but there is a decidedly differ- 

 ent species belonging to Europe and eastern North America to which 

 this name has been affixed by common usage. The term "semi- 

 palmated ' ' refers to the half webbing of the toes, a feature to be noted 

 with a fresh bird in hand, and distinguishing this species from any 

 other of our plovers. 



In California the Semipalmated Plover is most common along the 

 shores of the ocean and larger bays. It seems to be equally at home 

 on sandy beaches and on the mud flats of estuaries. Unless too greatly 

 harassed the birds are exceedingly tame and will allow one to approach 

 very closely. They may be found singly, in pairs, in small groups 

 of five or ten, or in flocks of forty to fifty ; the companies may either 

 consist entirely of their own kind, or include other small shore birds. 

 When a flock alights on the feeding ground the individuals compris- 

 ing it scatter out at considerable distances from one another and 

 thenceforth act with perfect independence. Each runs for a short 



