22 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



FAMILY CHARADRIID^E. THE PLOVERS. 



CHAB. Small or medium-sized shore-birds (scarcely waders), with rather short, some- 

 what [pigeon-like bill, large round head, short neck, long and pointed wings, and moder- 

 ately lengthened legs, the hind toe usually absent. 



The Plovers are quite distinct in their structural characters 

 from the Sandpipes and other Scolopacidce, being more nearly 

 related to the Turnstones and Oyster-catchers, notwithstanding 

 the fact that the latter are so different in appearance. Instead 

 of wading about in the shallow ponds or the margins of streams, 

 as is the custom of the Scolopacidce, they frequent meadows and 

 sandy tracts, where they run swiftly along the ground, in a 

 peculiarly graceful manner. 



The North American genera may be distinguished as follows : 



A. Size large (wing more than eight inches); head more or less crested; plumage 

 more or less metallic above. Occiput with a slender recurved crest; a well-de- 

 veloped hind toe, with claw; wing rounded, first quill shorter than fourth. 



1. Vanellns. Wing unarmed, or with rudimentary spur; tarsus not more than 

 twice as long as the middle toe. 



B. Size medium or small (wing less than eight inches) ; head without crest, and 

 plumage without metallic gloss above. 



c. Wing more than six inches ; plumage much speckled or spotted above ; lower 

 parts chiefly black in summer. 



2. Charadrius. A well-developed hind toe, without claw Subgenus Squatarola. 



3. No trace of hind toe ; otherwise very similar to Squatarola, but smaller and 

 more slender Subgenus Charadrius. 



d. Wing less than six inches; plumage nearly or quite uniform grayish or 

 brownish above (the rump ochraceous in subgenus Oxyechus], the lower 

 parts chiefly or entirely white at all stages. 



4. JEgialitis. 



e\ Tail very long (half as long as the wing, or more), extending half its 

 length beyond tips of closed wings ; rump and upper tail-coverts pale 

 rufous or ochraceous in the American species. 



Bill slender, about equal in length to the middle toe; tarsus decidedly 

 less than twice as long as middle toe ; rump and upper tail-coverts 



rufous or ochraceous (except in 0. tricollaris) Subgenus Oxyechus. 



e*. Tail short (less than half as long as the wing), reaching little, if any. be- 

 yond ends of closed wings : rump concolor with the back. 

 Bill variable, but usually shorter than middle toe. or, if longer, very 

 slender; tarsus less than twice as long as middle toe. Subgenus ^Egialltis. 



