126 



PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



Mr. E. Browne mentions meeting with this bird on the searshore of Vancouver 

 Island, and quite a number of examples of this species were procured at Sitka, as 

 well as at Kadiak, by Mr. Bischoff. Others were taken by Mr. Bannister at St. 

 Michael's and at Nulato, on the Yukon and at Takehemut by JVIr. Dall. 



Eggs of this species (Smithsonian Collection, t), 377) obtained by Mr. Dall from 

 near the Yukon Eiver, June 16, 1868, vary greatly in their size, one measuring 1.58 

 by 1.15 inches, the otlier 1.S5 by 1.19 inches. They are of an oblong pyriform shape, 

 their ground-color is a dral), strongly tinged with olivaceous, and very generally and 

 profusely marked with tine sprinklings of suffused spots and dottiugs. In the 

 smaller example these markings are larger and darker. 



Genus APHRIZA, Audubon. 



Aphri:a, AuD. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 249 (typo, Trimja virgatn, Lath.). 



Char. Similar to Strepsilas ; but the biU quite difterent, and much resembhng that of the 

 Plovers {Charadriidm), the terminal portion of the cuhnen being much arched, the middle portion 

 depressed. Tail slightly emarginate ; lateral margin of the toes more distinct than in Strepsilas, 

 producing a broader, more sole-Hke luider-surface. 



A. virgata. 



The single species of this genus has usually been associated with the Plovers ; but its atlinities 

 appear to be niuch nearer to Strepsilas, with which it agrees very closely except in the cliaracters 

 pointed out above. It diflers essentially from all the various forms ranged under the Charadriidce 

 in the completely cleft toes, the large, nearly incumbent liallux, ami the generally rolnist character 

 of the feet, which are even stouter than those of Strepsilas. 



Aphriza virgata. 



THE SURF BIRD. 



Tringa virgata, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 6"4. — Latu. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 735. 



Aphriza virgata, Guay, Gcii. H. III. 1847, pi. c.xlvii. — Cassix, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 698.— 



Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 509. — CouKS, Key, 1872, 245 ; Check List, 1873, no. 403 ; 2(1 



ed. 1882, no. 594. — E-mow. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 511. 

 Tringa heyrcalis, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 674. 

 Ai>hriza Tmcnsendii, AuD. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 249, pi. 428 ; Synop. 1839, 226 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 228, 



pi. 322. 



