NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



131 



280. Wilson Plover. Octhodromus wilsonius. 



Range. An abundant breeding species on the Gulf coast, coast of Lower 

 California, and on the Atlantic coast north to Virginia, and casually farther. 



A common Plover, which may be distinguished 

 from others of the genus by its comparatively large 

 heavy black bill, and the single broad black band 

 across the breast, and not extending around the 

 back of the neck. They nest on pebbly "shingle" 

 or in the marsh back of the beaches. Their eggs 

 are an olive gray color and are spotted and scratch- 

 ed with blackish brown, with some fainter mark- 

 ings of gray. Size 1.40 x 1.05. Data. Corpus 



the 



I gl 



Christi, Texas, May 10, 1899. 4 eggs laid on 

 ground among drifted grass on a salt marsh near 

 town. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong. 





[Olive gray. 



281. Mountain Plover. Podasocys montanus. 



Range. Plains and prairies of western North America, breeding from the 

 central portions north to Manitoba, and wintering in California and southward. 



^^^^^ A very peculiar species, inhabiting even the 



driest portions of the western prairies. It is '. 

 inches in length, and has a plumage of a pale 

 buffy tone. It seems to be less aquatic than any 

 other American Plover and is rarely found in the 

 vicinity of bodies of water. It nests on the ground 

 anywhere on the prairie, laying its eggs in a 

 slight hollow. The eggs are brownish gray in color 

 and are spotted and blotched with blackish brown. 

 Data. Morgan county, Colorado, May 7, I'.Nl'J. 

 Nest a slight hollow on the ground, near a large 

 cactus bed and close to a water hole. No lining to 

 nest. Collector, Glenn S. White. 



[Brownish grray.J 



SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. Family APHRIZID/E. 



282. Surf Bird. Aphriza virgata. 



This species, which is found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to Chili, seems 

 to be the connecting link between the Plovers and the Turnstones, having the 

 habits of the latter combined with the bill of the former. Its nest and eggs ,-irr 

 not known to have been yet discovered. 



283. Turnstone. Amiaria intcrpres. 



Range. The distribution of this species, 

 which is grayer above than the following, is 

 supposed to be confined, in America, to the 

 extreme north from Greenland to Alaska. Its 

 habits and eggs are precisely like the next. 



