CHAEADKIID^E. CXLVI. 249 



780. N. hudsonicus Latham. JACK CURLEW. Crown with 

 two broad dusky stripes, with a narrower median stripe of buffy. 

 L. 18. W. 9. T. 3. B. 3 or 4. N. Am. 



781. N. borealis (Forster). ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. DOUGH 

 BIRD. Crown narrowly streaked with dusky, without paler median 

 stripe. L. 14. W. 8. T. 3. B. 2\. N. Am., northwards. 



FAMILY CXLVI. CHARADRIID^B. (THE PLOVERS.) 



Head rather large, nearly globose; bill of moderate length, 

 shaped somewhat like a pigeon's bill, with a constriction behind 

 the horny terminal portion; nasal fossae lined with soft skin, 

 through which the slit-like nostrils open. Wings long and 

 pointed, usually reaching beyond the tip of the short tail, some- 

 times spurred. Toes usually three, with basal web ; tarsus reticu- 

 late; tibia naked below. Sexes similar, but seasonal changes of 

 plumage great. Species about 75, in most parts of the world. 

 a. Plumage above speckled; below, black in breeding season; tarsus much 

 longer than middle toe and claw ........ CHARADRIUS, 400. 



aa. Plumage of upper parts not speckled; neck with dark rings; tarsus not 

 much longer than middle toe and claw ; hind toe wanting. 



401. 



400. CHARADRIUS Linnaeus, (xapafyios, old name.) 

 a. Hind toe present, but very small. (Squatarola Cuvier.) 



782. C. squatarola L. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. OX-EYE. 

 Grayish, speckled ; black below in breeding season, at other times 

 white ; axillars sooty-black. L. ll. W. 7. T. 3. B. l. Ts. 2. 

 Northern regions ; rather rare in U. S. (Eu.} (Venetian name.) 

 aa. Hind toe wholly wanting. 



783. C. dominions Muller. GOLDEN PLOVER. FROST BIRD. 

 Dark and grayish above, profusely speckled, some of the spots 

 bright yellow ; black below in breeding season, at other times grey- 

 ish; wing coverts smoky-gray. L. 10. W. 7. T. 3. B. 1. Ts. 

 1$. N. Am., a well known game bird. 



401. .ZEGIALITIS Boie. (atytaXtrifr, one who lives along shore.) 



a. Tail half or more length of wing; rump orange brown; two black bands 

 on breast. (Oxyechus Reich.) 



784. 2E. vocifera (L.). KILDEER. Grayish brown ; tail with 

 black, white, and pale orange ; a black band above the white fore- 

 head. L. 10. W. 6J. T. 4. B. , black. N. Am., abundant in 

 the Miss. Valley. 



aa. Tail not half length of wing; rump colored like back; breast with one 



band or none. (Ochthodromus Reich.) 

 b. Bill as long as middle toe and claw. 



