NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 133 



278. ^gialitis nivosa Cass. [521.] 



Snowy Plover. 



Hab. Western North America, south to Mexico in winter, both coasts of Central America and in 

 Western South America to Chili. 



The Snowy Ring Plover inhabits the United States chiefly west 

 of the Rocky Mountains. It is a constant resident along the Califor- 

 nia coast, and a specimen has been taken on the coast of Texas in the 

 latter part of June. Mr. Emerson, of Haywards, California, informs 

 me that it nests along the sandy beeches of the ocean coast, and says 

 he has no doubt that it breeds along the bay beach, as he shot the 

 young there in June. Mr. Shields states that it is abundant along the 

 sandy beaches in the vicinity of Los Angeles, nesting in the first week 

 of April; fresh eggs often being found as late as May 15. Mr. N. S. 

 Ooss found the Snowy Plover breeding on the salt plains along the 

 Cimarrion River, in the Indian Territory, the northern limits of which 

 extend into south-western Comanche County, Kansas ; he also took two 

 specimens within the State limits. The birds are described as being 

 very much lighter in color that the California specimens.* The eggs 

 are three in number, in ground color, pale buff or clay color, and the 

 markings very much resemble Wilson's Plover, but are more numerous 

 and scratchy ; about the size of the eggs of the Piping Plover, meloda^ 

 1. 20 X. 90 



[279.] ^gialitis mongola (Pall). 



Mongolian Plover. 



Hab. Northern Asia, south in winter to Malay Archipeligo and Australia, Choris Peninsula, Alaska, 

 accidental. 



A bird of wide distribution. Found throughout Northern Asia in 

 general, west to St. Petersburg, Palestine and Northeastern Africa. In 

 winter it is found throughout Southern Asia and as far south as the 

 Philippines, Malay Archipeligo, etc., to Australia. Breeds commonly 

 in Northern portions of Asia, nesting on the ground like others of its tribe- 

 The eggs are four in number ; pale dull olive or buff sparsely marked 

 with brownish-black; size, 1.43x1.05. 



280. ^gialitis wilsonia (Ord.) [522.] 



W^ilson's Plover. 



Hab. Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, north to Long Island. Casually to Nova Scotia. 

 South in winter to Brazil and Peru and West Indies. 



Wilson's Plover, named in honoi of the immortal Wilson, is com- 

 mon along the sea-coast of the South Atlantic aud Gulf States. It is 

 found along the Eastern coast, but rarely north beyond New Jersey. 

 One of the "beach birds " and may be found in company with others 

 of the genus ^gialitis. On some of the islands on the coast of Georgia 

 Mr. Perry found them breeding in great numbers in company with the 



=:'.\uk. III. p. -109. 



