47^ The IVater-fowl Family 



in colonies. Here in many places the tide of the 

 bay rises to the inner edge of the outer beach, 

 and it was along this inside flat, close to the 

 ocean, the birds were most numerous, feeding on 

 the wet sand. I seldom saw them at the edge of 

 the breaking waves. The nests were on the high 

 beach, slight depressions in the ground, and the 

 eggs so exactly like the surroundings it was almost 

 impossible to see them. They allowed us to ap- 

 proach within a few feet, then ran off, — while 

 danger threatened keeping up a plaintive note of 

 distress. This species is readily distinguished 

 from the other small plover by its large and rather 

 long bill. 



MOUNTAIN PLOVER 



{^/Egialitis montana) 



Adult male and female in breeding plumage — Forehead and stripe 

 over the e3'e, and entire lower parts, white ; somewhat soiled 

 beneath ; fore part of crown and a line from bill to the eye, 

 black ; rest of crown and entire upper parts, grayish brown, the 

 feathers tinged occasionally with reddish bufiF; tail, dusky; 

 shafts of primaries, white ; iris, brown ; bill, black ; feet, yellow. 



Winter plumage — Similar, but the black markings on the head are 

 absent and the plumage is more tinged with buff. 



Young — Similar, but feathers of upper parts edged with buffy ; side 

 of head, neck, and chest, cream-buff. 



Downy young — Upper parts, brownish buff, mottled with black ; 

 lower parts, pale buff. 



Measurements — Length, 8.50 inches; wing, 6 inches; culmen, .85 

 inch; tarsus, 1.50 inches; middle toe, .75 inch. 



Eggs — Three in number ; ground color, dark drab marked with 

 black spots about the larger end; measure 1.40 by i.io inches. 



Habitat — Breeds from Arizona, eastern New Mexico, Indian Terri- 



