230 ZOOLOGY. 



numerous on the back and rump, and on the upper tail coverts, assuming the form of transverse bands, generally ; also with 

 some spots of ashy white. Entire under parts black, with a brownish or bronzed lustre, under tail coverts mixed or barred with 

 white. Forehead, border of the black of the neck, under tail coverts and tibiae, white ; axillary feathers cinereous ; quills, dark 

 brown ; middle portion of the shafts white, frequently extending slightly to the webs and forming longitudinal stripes on the 

 shorter quills ; tail dark brown, with numerous irregular bands of ashy white, and frequently tinged with golden yellow ; bill, 

 black ; legs, dark bluish brown. Younger. Under parts dull ashy, spotted with brownish on the neck and breast, frequently 

 more or less mixed wilh black ; many spots of the upper part dull ashy white ; other spots, especially on the rump, golden 

 yellow. 



Total length about 9 inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 2 inches. 



Hub. All of North America, South America, Northern Asia, Europe. 



Early in October, 1853, I found the golden plover quite abundant in the St. Mary s valley, at 

 the western base of the Rocky mountains. They were then found scattered in small flocks upon 

 the plains near the junction of the Bitter Root and Hell-Gate streams, which had recently been 

 burnt over by the spreading fires so commonly started either by accident or design by the wild 

 natives of the far west. 



The birds were remarkably unsuspicious and tame, and although frequently shot at were but 

 little alarmed. Those that I killed were very fat, and in excellent condition for the table. I 

 never saw this species near the coast in Washington or Oregon, and presume that, if found 

 there, it is only accidental. 



In the collections in San Francisco I saw several birds of this species, which had probably 

 been obtained in the public markets of that city. S. 



AEGIALITIS VOCIFERUS, (Linn.) Gas sin, 



Killdeer. 



Charadrlus vociferus, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 253. WILS. Am. Orn. VII, 1813,73 ; fig. pi. lix. NUT. Man, 

 II, 22. AUD. Orn.Biog. Ill, 1835, 191: V, 577 ; pi. 225. IB. Syn. 222. IB. Birds Am. 

 V, 1842, 207; pi. 317. 

 Jlegiiltes vociferus, BON. List, 1838. 



Jlegialitlsvociferus, BAIRD and CASSIV, Gen. Rep. Birds, 692. 



FIGURES. Catesby s Carolina, Birds, pi. 71. Buff. Pi. Enl. 286. Wilson s Am. Orn. VIII, pi. 59, fig. 6. Aud. B. 

 of Am. pi. 225, oct. ed. V, pi. 317. 



Sp. CH. Wings long, reaching to the end of the tail, which is also rather long. Head above and upper parts of the body 

 light brown with a greenish tinge, rump and upper tail coverts rufous, lighter on the latter. Front and lines over and under the 

 eye, white, another band of black in front above the white band ; stripe from the base of the bill toWar a the occiput, brownish 

 black ; ring encircling the neck and wide band on the breast, black ; throat white, which color extends upwards around the 

 neck; other under parts white. Quills brownish black with about half of their inner webs white, shorter primaries with a 

 large spot of white on their outer webs, secondaries widely lipped or edged with white. Tail feathers pale rufous at base; 

 the four middle light olive brown tipped with white, and with a wide subterminal band of black ; lateral feathers widely 

 tipped with white. Entire upper plumage frequently edged and tipped with rufous. Very young have upper parts light 

 gray, with a longitudinal band on the head and back black ; under parts white. Total length about 9J inches; wing, 6 J ; 

 tail, 3 inches. 



Length of a Rocky mountain specimen, 10.75 inches ; extent, 20.75 ; bill black ; feet yellow. 

 Hob. North and South America. 



This plover is a common species in Minnesota, Oregon, and Nebraska Territories, breeding 

 in summer throughoul this immense range. In winter they are sparingly found about Puget 

 Sound, as in the east, seemingly preferring the beaches and sand pits near salt water during 

 the cold months. The greater number of individuals, however, retire in the fall to the south; 

 not returning to the vicinity of the sound until about the end of April. They then repair in 



