EUDROMIAS MONTANUS, MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 



457 



Mgialitia montanns, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 693— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 18C0, 

 231.— llAYD., Eep. im-i, 173.— Dress., Ibis, 1866, 33 (San Antonio, Texas).— 

 Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 187:^, 181.— Aiken, Pr. Boat. Soc. xv, 1872, 209.— 

 Snow, B. Kaus. 1873, 9, No. 209. 



Podasocys montanus, CouES, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 96. — Elliot, B. N. A. ii, pi. 39. 



Charadrius {Podasocys) montanua, Gray, Hand-list, iii, 1871, 15, No. 9997. 



jEgialitis asiaticus var.* montanus, Codes, Key, 1872, 245. 



Etidromias montamtn, Hauting. — CouKS, Check-list, App. No. 402. 



JSab. — Western United States, from the plains of Middle Kansas and Nebraska, and 

 Western Dakota, to the Pacific. Texas {Dresser). Also, Florida (Maynaid). 



List of specimens. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 9043-44, Loup Fork of the Platte. 

 Later Expeditiom. — 59866, Middle Park, Colorado {Stevenson). 



Although this beautiful and iuterestiug bird Is strictly a western 

 species, still its range is more extensive than was formerly supposed, 

 both in latitude and longitude. ISo one has found it, so far as I am 

 aware, north of the United States boundary, but it probably penetrates 

 some little way, at least, into the British possessions, while, on the other 

 hand, it enters Mexico, and may even, as Mr. Oassin surmises, migrate 

 into South America in winter. But this is not yet determined. Its 

 Eastern limit is pretty nearly ascertained. The farthest point recorded 

 is the vicinity of Port Hays, near the centre of Kansas, where Mr. Allen 

 found it "moderately common," and it is known to occur in Nebraska 

 in a corresponding longitude. Further north, however, its range seems 

 to trend somewhat westward, for I never saw it in the eastern half of 

 Dakota, over much of which I have traveled, nor in the northern part 

 east of 103°. We have, nevertheless, a record of its occurrence and 

 breeding in Southwestern Dakota, in the vicinity of the Black Hills. 

 From the region thus indicated it may be found, in suitable situations, 

 to the Paciiic coast. 



The name of "Mountain Plover" does not appear to be well chosen, 

 further than as an expression of very general import. Though found 

 on highly elevated plateaux, it is not a bird of the mountains, but of 

 the plains. While most other Plovers haunt the vicinity of water, to 

 which some are almost confined, the present species is not in the least 

 degree of aquatic habits, but, on the contrary, resorts to plains as dry 

 and sterile as any of our country — sometimes the grassy prairies, with 

 Shore Larks and Titlarks, various Ground Sparrows, and^the Burrowing 

 Owl; sometimes sandy deserts, where the sage brush and the " chamizo," 

 the prickly pear and the Spanish bayonet, grow in full luxuriance. It 

 approaches the Paciiic, but will never be found on the beach itself, with 

 maritime birds, nor even on the adjoining mud-flats or marshes, prefer- 

 ring the flru), grassy fields further back from the water. 



*It appears from Mr. Hartins's recent critical article on Charadrius asiaticus (Ibis, 

 1870, 201, pi. 5), that I may have too hastily united our monimia with that sveoies— a 

 course in which I relied upon Prof Schlegel's authority, not having the opportnuity of 

 a direct comparison of specimens. As mentioned in the Check-list, the bird should 

 probably stand as Eudromias montanus. (Compare, however, Finscii, Ibis, 1>172, p. 144.) 



I have only recently had an opportunity of examining the species in perfect dross. 

 There is no pectoral band of black, but a broad, transverse, coronal, black bar of vary- 

 ing width (sometimes occupying half the pileum, sometimes a mere line), and another 

 sharp, black, loral line separating the white forehead find superciliary stripe from the 

 white of the chin and throat. There is a little ochraoeous edging of tlie feathers of the 

 upper parts, and a similar shade suifuses the breast. 



