176 



PLOVERS. 



Winnepeg," and eastward to the Magdalen and Sable Islands ; winters from 

 the Gulf southward. Casual on the Atlantic coast during the migrations. 

 Long Island, A. V. in summer. 



280. ^^alitis wilsonia {Ord). Wilson's Plover. Ad. S. — 



Lores, front of crown, and a band on the breast black; rest of under parts, 



forehead, and an indistinct ring on 



the nape white ; sides of the head 



and nape sometimes with rufous 



markings: cheeks, 



crown, and back 



brownish 



gray ; 

 inner tail-feathers 

 fuscous, outer ones becoming white. 

 Ad. 9 . — Similar, but black replaced 

 by brownish gray. Im. — Similar to 

 9 , but upper parts margined with 

 grayish. L., 7-50; W., 4-50; Tar., 

 1-10; B., -80. 



Range. — America, breeding from 

 Virginia to Central America; win- 

 ters southward to Brazil ; casual 

 northward to Nova Scotia. 



Long Island, A. V., in sum- 

 mer. 



Eggs., three, creamy Avhite, even- 

 ly and rather finely spotted and speckled with chocolate, 1.42 x 1-03. 



This is a more strictly maritime species than the other representa- 

 tives of this g'enus. Sandy beaches are its favorite resorts, but it is 

 also found on mud-flats exposed by the falling tide. Dr. Coues de- 

 scribes its note as half a whistle, half a chirp, quite different from that 

 of the preceding species. It is a gentle, unsuspicious bird, and when 

 its nest is approached it runs about the intruder and begs as plainly 

 as a bird can that he will not disturb its treasures. 



The Mountain Plover (281. ^Egialitis monfana)., a western species, is of 

 accidental occurrence in Florida. The upper parts are grayish brown margined 

 with rufous, the under parts are white tinged with buffy on the breast; in 

 adults the front of the crown and lores are black. L., about 8-75 ; W., 5-75 ; 

 Tar., 1-50 ; B., -85. 



Fig. 6G.— Wilson's Plover. (Natural size.) 



Family Aphrizid^. Surf Birds and Turnstones. 



A small family of four species, three of which are found in North 

 America, though but one of these visits our Eastern States. They are 

 strictly maritime birds, frequenting only the seacoasts, where they 

 prefer the outer beaches. 



