M UNTA iy PL O VER. 369 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from E-i^tern North America. Length, 10'40; stretch, 22'25; wing, 7-25; tail, 

 2 7.">; bill, -85; tarsus 1~~>. Lingo- 1 specimen, In-.-,. extent of wins, si.TOO; l,,ni;,--t winj;. 7'50; tail, 3'00; bill, 



95; tarsi*, 1 90. Sli<>rte-t ~) imen, lO'OO; smallest extent of wing, 21'50; shortest wing, 7'00; tail, 2'40; bill, '80; tarsus, 



MO. 



HKS( KIITIOX OF NESTS AND K(!(JS. 



fj/ffi, placed on the ground in a hollow scratched in t'ie -nil, with a little grass, etc.; two to four in number, ]>yrifonn 

 in sh;>|<;. deep ehocolato-brown in color, ~|> iited and blotched irregularly with large confluent markings of brown of vary- 

 ing shades. Dimensions from T35 x 1 J 80 to l'45xiMO. 



II A HITS. 



The Golden Plovers differ somewhat in habit from the Beetle Heads,; thus, although 

 they remain in Massachusetts about as late as tin- latter named species, they arrive earlier; 

 their notes are mellower and given in greater variety, for besides the whistle which is ut- 

 tered while flying, they have a peculiar chuckling note, when about to alight. They are 

 also fond of the open wind-swept hill-tops near the coast, where they feed upon grasshop- 

 pers, but occasionally a straggler will alight on a beach or marsh. In migration, they arc 

 again peculiar, for although very common during autumn along the eastern coast, I never 

 knew of a specimen being taken here in spring; nor did I ever meet with one in Florida. 

 They pass quite out of the United States, spending the winter in South America and ad- 

 jacent islands. On their return to the northern breeding grounds, they merely pass through 

 the country, west of the Mississippi, but nest in the same section as the Black Bellies, like 

 them, placing the eggs on the ground on some slight elevation. 



CF.NUS III. ^ECTAT.ITIS. THE RINGED PLOVERS. 



GEN. CH. Bill, short, not at long as the head which a of moderate size. Tail, rounded or nearly tqvare. Hind toe, 

 at/sent. 



Members of this genus are quite uniform in color above and white below, usually with a conspicuous black ring a- 

 round neck The eyes are large. 



.ffiGIALITIS MONTANUS. 



Mountain Plover. 

 JEyialitis montanus B.MRD, Birds. N. A.; 1858, 693. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Plate XV. Adult. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, large. Bill, long and slender. Tail, square. Tertiaries, nearly reaching the 

 tips of wings. Sexes, similar. . 



r.ilor. Advil. Ab.ive, pale yellowish-brown, becoming lighter on the rump. Primaries and tail, brown, the former 

 tipped with black, and the latter narrowly tipped with white, preceded by a broad band of bluek. Forehead and line over 

 eye, -white, above and below which is one of black extending to eye. Under parts, yellowish-white, tinged with n de, 

 shade on the breast and si.lcs. 



Youny. Lacks the Mack band in front and the white of forehead Ls tinged with dull yellow. Bill, black, iris, brown, 

 and legs, yellow, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS 



Readily known by the large u ize, lack of rings on the lirenst, combined with the uniform pnle yellowish-brown above. 

 Distributed throughout the United States, west of the Mis-is-ippi Valley. Rare at Key West in winter. 



IHMKNSIOXS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Western North America. Length, D'OO; stretch, 18-32: wing, 6'35: tail, 2 75; 

 bill, -85; tor^us, 1 ")"). L.n^e-t -pecimen. '.HO; greatest extent of wing, 18-7.V ''75; tail, 2 U5; Kill, (; 



tarsus, 1 60. Shortest specimen, 8'UO; smallest extent of wing, 18"00; shortest wing, fi'50; tail, 2 60; bill, "80; tarsus, 1- 43 



