146 BULLETIN 155, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Family CHARADRIIDAE 53 

 Subfamily Charadriinae 



CHARADRIUS NIVOSUS TENUIROSTRIS (Lawrence) 

 CUBAN SNOWY PLOVER, PLAYERO 



Mgialitis tenuirostris Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 7, 1862, 

 p. 455 (near Guantanamo, Cuba). 



Charadrius nivosus tenuirostris, Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 vol. 80, 1928, p. 520 (listed).— Danforth, Auk, 1929, pp. 231-232, 363 (St. Marc, 

 Haiti, specimen). 



Rare ; status uncertain, but apparently breeds. 



There are few records of the snowy plover at present for Hispan- 

 iola. There is in the United States National Museum a female 

 taken at the ^Etang Saumatre, Haiti, March 9, 1918, by W. L. Abbott, 

 a bird in somewhat worn adult dress so that from the date it seems 

 probable that the species may breed in the area mentioned. Dan- 

 forth found a pair on July 25, 1927, at the Etang Bois-Neuf, a 

 small brackish lagoon south of St. Marc, Haiti, and collected a 

 female which was near the breeding season. The stomach of this 

 specimen contained three ants (Odontomachus haernatodes) and two 

 Corixids. 



The snowy plover is one that frequents alkaline plains near the 

 borders of lakes and channels, where its light coloration, coupled 

 with the intense light reflected from the alkaline crusts of its back- 

 ground, often render it difficult to see even when its presence is 

 made certain by its low, whistled call. When its breeding grounds 

 are approached it may circle about overhead or may start out running 

 across the muddy surface, continuing without pausing for distances 

 far beyond those usually covered by its relatives so that it is necessary 

 for the observer to run also to keep within sight of it. 



The bird is not much larger than a sparrow, having the wing 

 from 98 to 107 mm. long. It is light gray above, and white below 

 with a blackish spot on either side of the breast. It is distinguished 

 from the semipalmated plover by paler coloration above, slightly 

 smaller size, and lack of a breast band. 



CHARADRIUS MELODUS Ord 



PIPING PLOVER 



Charadrius melodus Ord, Reprint, Wilson's Orn., vol. 7, 1824, p. 71 (Great 

 Egg Harbor, New Jersey). 



™Vanellus Dominicensis armatus Brisson (Ornith., vol. 5, 1760, pp. 118-120), which 

 was said to have come to de Reaumur from " S. Domingue " through Chcrvaln, from the 

 description is evidently a wattled plover. This bird was called Charadrius trissonii by 

 Wagler, Syst. Av., 1827, p. 77, and is listed under this name by Hartlaub, Isis, 1847, 

 p. 609. The locality must be incorrect since no plover of this type is known from the 

 Antilles. 



