MO UNTA JN PLO VER. J 7 5 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measuremcots of specimen^ from Eastern North America. Length 10-40; stretch, 2-2-2.'): wing, 725; tail, 

 2 75; bill, -85; tarsu'f, 1-75. Longest specimen, lO'SO; greatest extent of wing, 23 Ofl; longiist wing, 7 50; tail. 3-00; bill, 

 ■93; tarsus, 1 90. Shortest specimen, 1000; smallest e.'ctent of wing, 21-50; shortest wing, 700; tail, 2-10; bill, -80; tarsus, 

 1-50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Ecigs, placed on the grotind in a hollow scratched in the soil, with a little grass, etc. ; two to four in number, pyriform 

 in shape, deep chocolate-brown in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with large confluent markings of brown of vary- 

 ing shades. Dimensions from l'35xr80 to 1-45x2 10. 



HABITS. 



The Golden Plovers differ somewhat in habit from the Beetle ^eadf^ thus, although 

 they remain in Massachusetts about as late as the latter named species, they arrive earlier; 

 their notes are mellower and given in greater variety, for besides the whistle which is ut- 

 tered while flying, they have a peculiiir chuckling note, when about to alight. They are 

 also fond of the open wind-swept hill-tops near the coast, where they feed upon grasshop- 

 pers, but occasionally a straggler will alight on a beach or marsh. In migration, they are 

 again peculiar, for although very common during autumn along the eastern coast, I never 

 knew of a specimen being taken here in spring; nor did I ever meet with, one in Florida. 

 They pass quite out of the United States, spending the winter in South America and ad- 

 jacent islands. On their return to the northern bree<ling grounds, they merely jjass through 

 the country, west of the Mississippi, but nest in the same section as the Black Bellies, like 

 them, placing the eggs on the ground on some slight elevation. 



GENUS III. /EGIALITIS. THE RINGED PLOVERS. 



Gen. Cn. BiU, short, not as long as the head which is of moderate size. Tail, rounded or neor/i/ square. Hind toe, 

 absent. 



Members of this genus are quite uniform in color above and white below, usually with a conspicuous black ring a- 

 round neck The eyes are large. 



JSGIALITIS MONTANUS. 



Mountain Plover. 



XyiaHtis montanus B.mrd, Birds. N. A.; 1P58, 693. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Plate XV. Adult. 



Sp. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, large. i>ill, long and slender. Tail, square. Tertiaries, nearlj' reaching the 

 tips of wings. Sexes, similar. 



Color. Adult. Ab:)ve, pale yellowish-brown, becoming lighter on the rump. Primaries and tail, brown, the former 

 tipped with black, and the latter narrowly tipped with wliite, preceded by a broad band of black. Forehead and line over 

 eye, white, above and below which is one of black extending to eye. Under parts, yellow-isli-white, tinged with a deeper 

 .shade on the breast and sides. 



Youny. Lacks the black band in front and the white of forehead is tinged w-ith dull yellow. Bill, black, iris, brown, 

 (ind legs, yellow, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Read ily known by t' e large '■ize, lack of rings on tlie breast, cnuibiued with the uniform pale yollowish-bro-VTn above. 

 Distributed throughout the United States, west of the Mississippi Valley. Rare at Key West in winter. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from WtsternNorth America. Length, 9-00; stretch, 18-32: wing, 6-25; tail,2-75; 

 bill, '85; tai-sus, l-,')5. Longest spoeimen, 9- I(i; greatest extent of wing, 1875; longest wing, 6 75; tail, 2 95; bill, -90; 

 tarsus, I 60. Sb.ortest specimen, 8'90; smallest extent of win;; 1800; shortest wing, 5 50; tail, 2 60; bill, 80; tarsus, 1' 4S 



