BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 47 



^CIALITIS WILSOXIUS. {Ord) 

 Wilson's Plover. 



Winter Plumage, Male. — Above, ashy brown ; forehead, white, 

 extending into a faint superciHary stripe of dull black on the crown ; 

 throat, white, continuing on the sides of the neck, nearly joining 

 upon the nape ; a black pectoral band, the feathers edged with white, 

 becoming brown upon the sides; under parts, white; two central 

 tail-feathers, brown, the others showing increasing markings of 

 white to the outer tail-feathers, which are white ; bill, black (large 

 and stout); legs, pinkish. Female and immature birds have the 

 pectoral band brown, and no black on the head. 



Length 7.45, wing 4.60, tail 1.90, tarsus 1.16, bill .90. 



The Wilson's Plover is a resident, and very abundant, gener- 

 ally frequenting the long, open beaches. We found it common on 

 Andros Island, where it was tame and unsuspicious. I also occa- 

 sionally observed it along the shores of the inland salt ponds. 

 Incubation commences about May 15. On May 27 I procured 

 the eggs of this species near Mathewstown, Inagua. The nest 

 was simply a slight depression in the sand, and contained three 

 eggs, which were quite fresh. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. V. pi. 319. 



