PIPING PLOVEE. 459 



CharadHua semi^almatus, Bonapaetb, Obs., Wils., 1825, No. 219. 

 Aegialilis semipahnatua, Bonapartk, Comp. List, 1838, 45. 

 ^gialitis semipalmaivs, Coues, Birds, N. W,, 1874, 453. 



Above daik ashy-brown with an olivaceous shade ; below white ; very broad coronal 

 and pectoral blsiok bars in the adnlt in spring, in fall and in the yonng the coronal bar 

 hardly evident, the pectoral grayish-brown ; edges of eyelids bright orange ; bill 

 moderately short and stout, orange or yellow, black tipped ; legs yellowish ; toes con- 

 spicuoaaly semipalmate, Length, abont 7 inches ; wing, 4i ; tail, about SJ rounded. 



Having taken fall specimens with the coronal bar and pectoral band as distinct and 

 black as in spring birds, I am of the opinion that the above deaoription errs in regard to 

 adults in fall. 



Habitat, Worth America, breeding chiefly in high latitudes, wintering from our south- 

 ern border to Brazil. 



Not common migrant in spring, more abundant in the fall. I have 

 Been the Semipalmated Plover in spring but on one occasion, May, 1880, 

 ■when a pair, in company with Kildeers, lingered for several days about 

 the wet places in an old brick-yard near this city. They are common 

 and regular in the fall, however, arriving the last week of July or first of 

 August, frequenting gravelly and muddy shores of streams in small flocks 

 of fTorn eight to twenty birds, or less, single birds frequently associating 

 with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Their habits resemble those of 

 the Kildeer, and their note is a soft mellow wljistle. 



The eggs of this bird resemble those of the Kildeer, except in size, 

 they measure »bout 1.25 by 93. 



It is not unlikely the breeding range of this species will be found to 

 extend southward farther than has been heretofore supposed. It is re- 

 corded as breeding in Massachussetts, and Mr. Nelson has found both young 

 and old near Chicago early in July, under circumstances making it almost 

 certain that they nested in that vicinity. 



jEgialitis meloda (Ord.) Bp. 



Piping I^lover; Hingneclr. 



Charadriua melodus, Kietlahd, Am. Jonrn. Soi. and Arts, xl, 1841, 24. 



Aegialitis melodus, Wheatost, Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1860, 1861, 368, 377 ; Reprint, 10, 19. 



JEgialiUs melodtts, Whbaton, Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1874, 1875, 572 ; 

 Eeprint, 12.— Lahgdok, Cat. Birds of Gin., 1877, 14 ; Journ. Gin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i,. 

 1878, 116 ; Eeprint, 7. 



JEgialitis meloda, Langdon, Eevised List, Jonrn. Gin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 182 ; Ee- 

 print, 16. 



Piping Plover, Kirtland, Am. Journ. Soi. and Arts, xiii, 1352, 218. 



Charadrintmelodut, Ord, ed. Wils. Am. Om., v, 1812, 30. 

 MgiaTAUs tnelvdus, Bonaparte, Gomp. List, 1838, 45. 

 JEgialitis mtleda, CeuES, Birds N. W., 1874, 455. 



Above, very pale ashy -brown ; the black bands narrow, oft«n imperfect ; bill colored 

 as in the last, but shorter and stumpy ; edges of eyelids colored ; no evident web between 



