North American Birds Eggs. 



131 



280. Wilson Plover. OrthddnimuK wilndiiiiix. 



^ Kange.— An al>undant breeding species on the Gulf coast, coast of Lower 

 California, and on the Atlantic coast north to Virginia, and casually farther. 



A common Plover, which may he ilistinguished 

 from others of the genus by its comparatively large 

 heavy black bill, and the single broad black band 

 across the breast, ami not extending around the 

 back of the neck. They nest on peblily "shingle" 

 or in the marsh back of the beaches. Their eggs 

 are an olive gray color and are spotted and scratch- 

 ed with blackish brown, with some fainter mark- 

 ings of gray. 8ize 1.40 x 1.05. Data.— Corpus 

 Christi, Texas, May 1(1, ISili). 4 eggs laid on the 

 ground among drifted grass on a salt marsh near 

 town. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong. 



28 1. Mountain Plover. Podamirya niiniiiniim. 



Range.— Plains and prairies of western North America, breeding from the 

 central portimis north to Manitoba, and wintering in California and southward. 



_.. ., A very peculiar species, inhabiting even the 



driest portions of the western prairies. It is i) 

 inches in length, and has a plumage of a pale 

 buff)' tone. It seems to be less aquatic than any 

 other American Plover and is rare!)' found in the 

 vicinity of bodies of water. It nests on the ground 

 anywhere on the iirairie, laying its eggs in a 

 slight hollow. Tlie eggs arelirownish gray in color 

 and are spotted and Idotched witli blackish brown. 

 Data. — Morgan county, Colf)rado, iNIay 7, 1002. 

 Nest a slight hollow on the ground, near a large 

 cactus bed and close to a water hole. No lining to 

 nest. Collector, Glenn 8. White. 



[Brownish gray. 



SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. Family APHRIZID/E. 



282. Surf Bird. Aphriza virgata. 



This species, which is found on the Pacific coast from .Alaska to Chili, seems 

 to be the connecting link between tlie Plovers and the Turnstones, having the 

 habits of the latter combined with the bill of the former. Its nest and eggs are 

 not known to have been yet discovered. 





283. Turnstone. A rrniirUi i ulrrprcH. 



Range.— The distriliution of this species, 

 which is grayer above than the following, is 

 supposed to be confined, in America, to the 

 extreme north from Greenland to Alaska. Its 

 habits and eggs are precisely like the next. 



[Creamy. J 



