294 KEY TO THE WATER lURDS OF FLORIDA. 



^GIALITIS HELODA {Ord). 

 Piping Plover. 



Adult in summer : Upper parts ashy ; forehead wliite, 

 separated from the ash color of the head by a narrow patch 

 of black ; a band on the side of the breast black ; under 

 parts and a ring around the neck white. 



Adult in winter : Similar to the summer plumage, but 

 the black marking replaced by grayish buff or ashy gray 

 instead of black. Bill orange at base, tipped with black. 



Length, 7.20; Wing, 4.80; Tarsus, .90; Bill, .50. 



Ranges from Labrador to the West Indies 

 and South America. It is a common species 

 on the New England coast during the migra- 

 tions, and is a regular winter visitant to Florida, although not abundant. 



The Piping Plover breeds from Virginia to Labrador and Newfoundland. 

 The eggs are dull white marked with dark brown. 



/EG I A LITIS HELODA CIRCUHCINCTA Ridgtv. 

 Belted Piping Plover. 



It is similar to N. ?neloda, but differs in having an unbroken black band from the sides 

 around in front of the neck. 



This species occurs on the coast during the migrations. I am not aware 

 that it has been recorded from Florida, but it no doubt occurs there. 



Subgenus OCHTHODROMUS Reich. 



/EGIALITIS WILSONIA {Ord.). 

 Wilson's Plover. 



Adult male : Above ashy brown; forehead white, extending into a faint superciliary 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 featliers brown, the others showing increasing 

 markings of white to the outer tail feathers, which are white ; bill black (large and stout) ; legs 

 pinkish. 



