CHARADRHD^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. X. Am. 



781. N. borealis (Forster). Esquimaux Curlew. Dough 

 Bird. Crown narrowly streaked with dusky, without paler median 

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



Family CXLVI. CHARADRIID^E. (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 lb, in most parts of the world. 



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



longer than middle toe and claw Chakadrius, 400. 



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

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



^Egialitis, 401. 



400. CHARADRIUS Linnams. (xapadpios, 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. 111. 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. dominicus Aliiller. Goldex 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. 

 If. N. Am., a well known game bird. 



401. -ffiGIALITIS Boie. (cu'yinXiTJ??, one who lives along shore.) 



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

 on breast. (Oxyechus Reich.) 



784. .33. vocifera (L.). Kildeer. Grayish brown ; tail with AA -*" 

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

 head. L. 10. W. 6^. T. 4. B. f, black. X. Am., abundant in 



the Miss. Valley. 



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

 band or none. (Ochthodromus Reich.) 

 b. Bill as long as middle toe and claw. 



