SVRF-BIED 485 



Colorado. On June 11 many partly grown young were seen. One, 

 wliich was estimated to be a week or ten days old, was able to run 

 with great speed and did so with its wings outspread. An adult 

 squatting in the shade of a fence post, and a young one in a similar 

 position, were seen on the same date. 



The food of the Mountain Plover, as might be surmised from its 

 choice of haunts, is almost entirely composed of insects ; of these, 

 the species which are found in open country, such as grasshoppers, 

 crickets and beetles, are most frequently taken. Flies are also eaten 

 (Beck, MS; McAtee, 1911a). Belding (MS) observes interestingly 

 that he often found this Plover in recently sown grain fields, but 

 was never able to discover a single kernel of wheat in the stomachs 

 of those shot. 



As a possible feature of attractiveness to the hunter may be men- 

 tioned this bird's fair size and consequent food value. In earlier 

 years numbei-s were sold in the markets at least of Los Angeles. We 

 have, however, learned little that would evidence particular enthus- 

 iasm over this species on the part of the average sportsman. Beld- 

 ing (MS) says that "during their winter sojourn here the birds 

 become fat, and so tame as to afford the hunter but little sport." 

 Also "their flesh has an unpleasant taste not at first noticed." 



It may well be said that the Mountain Plover is a unique type 

 among our shore birds. Its upland habitat marks it off sharply from 

 most of our other species. It therefore deserves special consideration 

 from the game standpoint, as it gives an object of pursuit to the plains 

 dweller to Avhom hunting along the seacoast or in the lowland marshes 

 is denied. Its habit of appearing in great numbers at irregular inter- 

 vals, as if concentrated into a small area, should be taken into account 

 and only moderate hunting permitted in order that its numbers may 

 not be too greatly reduced. 



Surf-bird 



Aphriza virgata (Gmelin) 



Other names — Townsend's Surf Bird; Strepsilas virgaia. 



Description — Adults, both sexes, in summer: Whole head and neck streaked 

 black and white, darkest on crown where also suffused with pale buff; chin 

 whitest, the markings reduced to flecks; eyelids white; iris dark brown; bill 

 (dried) brownish black, dull yellow on basal half of lower mandible; feathers 

 of back brownish black, with narrow edgings of ashy white, and extensive 

 markings of reddish buff; rump dull dark brown; upper tail coverts abruptly 

 and solidly white; tail pure white on basal half, dull dark brown on terminal 

 half, the outer feathers with narrow white tips; outer surface of closed wing 

 dull brown; bases of primaries, tips of primary coverts and ends of most of 

 secondaries, white, forming a conspicuous band across expanded wing; flight 



