152 PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



The numerous species of this genus vary greatly among themselves in the details of structure, 

 although there is a general similarity of coloration throughout the group. The American species 

 may be distinguished as follows : — 



JE. nivosa, 



A. Nape crossed by a more or less distinct white collar. 



a. Bill decidedly shorter than middle toe, very stout (except in M. turonua), the basal half 



light colored (orange or yellow) in adults, except in JE. curonica. 

 a'. A distinct web between base of inner and middle toes. 



1. .SI. semipalmata. Above, grayish brown; forehead, ring round neck, and lower parts, 



white. In summer, fore part of crown, lores, and broad pectoral collar (continued round 

 back of neck, below the white nuchal collar) black or dusky. In mnter, these black 

 markings replaced by grayish brown, like the back, etc. Yaung, like winter adults, but 

 bill wholly black, and feathers of upper parts margined termiuall)' with buff. Wing, 

 about 4.50-4.7.'i ; culmen, .45-50; depth of bill at base, .20; tarsus, .95; middle toe, 

 .05-70. Hah. Nearly the whole of America. 

 a". No well between base of inner and middle toes. 



2. Si. hiaticula. Colors of .•£'. sfmyja/jHata, but pectoral band In'oader. Wing, about 5.00 ; 



culmen, .50-55 ; depth of l>ill at base, .20-22 ; tarsus, 1.00 ; middle toe, .00-65. 

 Hah. Palasarctic Region and portions of Arctic America. 



3. .ffi. curonica. .Similar to ^. hiaticula, but smaller and much more slender, especially 



the bill, which is always black ; middle of crown crossed by a more or less distinct 

 whitish bar, immediately behind the black patch. Wing, 4.35—4.70 ; culmen, .50-.52 ; 

 depth of bill at base, .15-18 ; tarsus, 1.00-1.05 ; middle toe, .55-.60. Hah. Patearctic 

 Region generally ; accidental in California and Alaska ? 



4. Si. meloda. Above, pale brownish gray ; forehead, lores, nuchal collar, and lower parts 



wliite. In summer, a band across fore part of crown, and one across each side of breast 

 (the latter sometimes connected, so as to fornr a continuous pectoral band), black or 

 dusky. 7)i winter, these black markings replaced by light brownish gray, and the bill 

 almost entirely, or wholly, black. Young, like the winter plumage, but feathers of upper 

 surface with distinctly paler terminal margins. Wing, 4.50-4.80 ; culmen, .45-.50 ; depth 

 of bill at base, .20-.22 ; tarsus, .85-1.00 ; middle toe, .55. 



a. var. meloda. Black pectoral band wlmlly or partially interrupted in the middle por- 

 tion. Hab. Atlantic coast of United States. 



^. var. circumcincta. Black pectoral band entirely contiiuious. Hah. Missouri River Region 

 of United States, straggling eastward. 

 6. Bill much longer than the middle toe, very slender, wholly black. 



5. .as. alexandrina. Above, light brownish gray ; forehead, superciliaries, nuchal collar, 



and lower parts white, hi summer, fore part of the crown, a transverse patch ou each 

 side of breast (and sometimes a loral streak), black or dusky : pileum sometimes (espe- 

 cially in adult males) butl'y or rufescent. Bill, legs, and feet, black or dusky. 



