CHARADRIID.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. 31. 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^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 75, in most parts of the world. 



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

 longer than middle toe and claw. SQUATAROLA and 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. 



JSGIALITIS, 401. 



399 b. SQUATAROLA Vieillot. 

 a. Hind toe present, but very small. 



782. S. squatarola (L.). BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. OX-EYE. 

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

 white ; axillars sooty-black. L. 11^. W. 7. T. 3. B. l. Ts. 2. 

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



400. CHARADRIUS LinnaBus. (xapaSpufc, old name.) 



783. C. dominions Miiller. 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. .ffiGIALITIS Boie. (afytaAiTT/s, 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 

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

 head. L. 10. W. 6. T. 4. B. f, 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. (Ockthodromus Reich.) 

 b. Bill as long as middle toe and claw. 



