BIRDS OF KANSAS. 185 



SP. CHAR. "No hiiirl toe; front toes moderate or rather long, flattened un- 

 derneath, distinctly margined with a membrane. Bill straight, rather thick; 

 ridge of upper mandible flattened; nasal groove deep and nearly as long as the 

 upper mandible, not so distinct as the lower; both mandibles widened and flat- 

 tened at the tip; aperture of the nostrils large and covered with a membrane. 

 Wing long; tail short, with the middle feathers longest; under coverts long as 

 the tail; legs moderate; lower third of the tibia naked. Lower parts white, 

 immaculate on the belly, sides, flanks, axillars, anal region and crissum; greater 

 wing coverts broadly tipped with white, and inner primaries white at base .of 

 outer webs. Adult, in summer: Above, light rufous, broken by large spots of 

 black, the feathers mostly tipped with whitish. Head, neck, throat and juguliim 

 pale cinnamon rufous, speckled below and streaked above with blackish. Adult, 

 in winter: Above, very pale pearl gray (the lesser wing coverts darker anteri- 

 orly), relieved only by faint darker shaft streaks of the feathers. Throat arid 

 jugulum immaculate pure white. Adult, in spring: Above, light grayish, with 

 large black spots (streaks on the crown), here and there mixed with rufous; jug- 

 lum speckled with dusky on a white ground. Young: Above, pale gray, spotted 

 with black and whitish, the latter on tips of the feathers; jugulum immaculate 

 white, faintly tinged with dull buff. Bill and feet black; iris brown." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.75 15.25 4.80 2.20 1.00 1.00 



Female... 8.00 15.75 5.00 2.10 1.00 1.00 



The natural home of this wide spread and abundant species is 

 upon the sandy beach along the sea shores. During migration 

 a few pass inland, but do not tarry long, except at the lakes or 

 large bodies of water, where the wash of the waves lines the 

 shores with debris that teems with minute insect life, snails, 

 larvae, etc; while feeding run swiftly about, with head lowered 

 and well drawn back, often closely following the waves as they 

 roll in and out. At such times they scatter more or less, but 

 are very social, and quickly bunch together to rest or in flight, 

 which is swift and graceful, usually low and near the surface of 

 the water. In resting, often squat upon the ground; as a rule 

 are not shy, and will permit a near approach. 



They have been found breeding from the Arctic coast to 

 Greenland. Their nest is a mere depression in the ground, 

 sparingly lined with old grasses and leaves. Eggs usually four. 

 1.4:3x. 92; brownish olive with faint blotches and spots of vary- 

 ing shades of brown, thickest and somewhat running together 

 about the larger end; in shape, pyriform. 



