643 
sod-covered runway for the steep stair-case, the bird was induced to visit her 
eggs upon the very summit of the platform. The river, meanwhile, was find- 
ing considerable lateral relief and a further rise of more than one or two feet 
seemed improbable. It was thus I left the Killdeer, seated on her little Eifel, 
in comforting assurance that her treasures were safe.® 
No. 255. 
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. 
A. O. U. No. 274. AEgialitis semipalmata Bonap. 
Synonyms.—RING PLOVER. RING-NECK. 
Description.—Adult in summer: A narrow black band across breast and 
continuous around hind-neck; fore-crown and a band on side of head below eye 
to bill, and meeting fellow on extreme forehead, black mixed with brown; fore- 
head, indistinct superciliary line, lower eye-lid, chin, and throat, continuous with 
narrow band across cervix, and remaining underparts, white; crown and nape, 
back, etc., bright grayish brown; upper tail-coverts and base of tail a little lighter ; 
tail blackish subterminally, the outer pair of feathers pure white, the others de- 
creasingly white-tipped; greater wing-coverts white-tipped; primaries blackish, 
the basal and subterminal portion of their shafts white; bill black, orange-red at 
base; feet and legs yellowish. Adult in winter: The black markings replaced 
by dark grayish brown. Young: Similar to adult in winter, but feathers of 
upperparts tipped with light buffy. Length 6.50-7.50 (165.1-190.5) ; wing 4.90 
(GeAss ieetatle2sTon(¢5353))) bill 52) 1(13%2)wtarsus: 07) (24:6): 
Recognition Marks.—Sparrow size, but appearing larger; a miniature Kill- 
deer, but without tawny rump, and with only ove band across breast. Feet par- 
tially webbed. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Nest: on the ground. Eggs: 
3 or 4, like those of the Killdeer, but smaller. Av. size, 1.30 x .92 (33 x 23.4). 
General Range.—Arctic and subarctic America, migrating south thru tropi- 
cal America as far as Brazil, Peru and the Galapagos. 
Range in Washington.—Not uncommon during migrations, chiefly coast- 
wise; Destruction Island, July 16, 1906. 
Authorities.—4 egialitis semipalmatus (Bon.) Cab., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Sie, WIA jon Cos, (OAs IG, 18 Ua((eb). 
Specimens.—U. of W. Prov. B. 
THE Semipalmated Plover is a miniature Killdeer to appearance, but it 
has only one black chest-band instead of two. It is not a noisy bird like the 
Killdeer for it patters about silently when in quest of food, and utters only 
a “soft, mellow whistle” when put to wing. 
a. “Saving the Killdeer’s Nest,’’ The Pacific Monthly, Oct. 1908, p. 395. Reproduced here in sub- 
stance by courtesy of The Pacific Monthly Publishing Company. 
