28 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



winter it is an unusually silent bird. At this season it is 

 found dispersed over the cultivated fields in Florida, Georj^a, 

 the Carolinas, and other Southern States, diligently searching 

 for food." (Brewer.) 



Subgenus -ffigialitis Boie. 



JEgialitis Boie, Isis, 1822, 558. Type, Charadrius hiaticula Linn. 



Chab. Similar to Oxyechus, but the species of smaller size, with shorter and less gradu- 

 ated tail (less than half as long as the wing), and rump concolor with the back (grayish). 



The numerous species of this subgenus vary greaJtly among themselves in the details of 

 structure, although there is a general similarity of coloration throughout the group. The 

 North American species may be distinguished as follows : 



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



a. Bill decidedly shorter than middle toe, very stout (except in ^. dubia), the basal 

 half light colored (orange or yellow) in adults, except in ^. dubia. 



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



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

 parts white. In sum.mer, fore part of crown, lores, and broad pectoral collar 

 (continued round back of neck, below the white nuchal collar) black or dusky. 

 In winter, these black markings replaced by grayish brown, hke the back, etc. 

 Young, like winter adults, but bill wholly black, and feathers of upper parts 

 margined narrowly with buff. Wing, about 4.50-1.75 ; culmen, .4.5~.50 ; depth of 

 bill at base, .20; tarsus, .95; middle toe, .65-70. Hah. Nearly the whole of 

 America. 



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



2. M. hiaticula. Similar to uIS. semipalmata, but pectoral band broader. Wing, 

 about 5.00; culmen, .50-.55; depth of bill at base, .20-.22; tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, 

 .60-65. Hah. Palsearctic region and portions of Arctic America. 



3. M. dubia.. Similar to jE. hiaticula, but smaller and much more slender, espe- 

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

 distinct whitish bar, immediately behind the black patch. Wing, 4.35-4.70; cul- 

 men, .50-.52; depth of bill at base, .15-18; tai-sus, 1.00-1.05; middle toe, .55-.60. 

 Hab. Palccarctic region generally; accidental in California and Alaska. 



4. M. meloda. Above, pale brownish gray; forehead, lores, nuchal collar, and 

 lower parts white. In sumnier, a band across fore part of crown, and one 

 across each side of breast (the latter sometimes connected, so as to form a con- 

 tinuous pectoral band), black or dusky. In winter, these black markings 

 replaced by light brownich gray, and the bill almo.st 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. meloda. Black pectoral band wholly or partially interrupted in the mid- 

 dle portion. Hah. Atlantic coast of United States. 



/3. circumcincta. Black pectoral band continuous. Hab. Missouri River 

 region of United Stat«s, straggling eastward. 



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



6. S,. alexandrina. Above, light brownish gray; forehead, superciliaries, nuchal 

 collar, and lower parts white. In summer, fore part of the crown, a transverse 

 patch on each side of breast (and sometimes a loral streak), black or dusky; 

 pileum sometimes (especially in adult males) buffy or rufescont. Bill, legs, and 

 feet, black or dusky. 



