474 The Water-fowl Family 



breast, black ; upper parts, gray ; crown and occiput, occasion- 

 ally tinged with buff; primaries, dusky with white shafts; the 

 two outer tail feathers, white, the rest gradually growing darker 

 to the inner pair, which are dusky. 



Adult female — Similar to the male, but without the distinct black 

 markings ; sometimes these are wanting ; bill and eyelids, in 

 both, black ; iris, brown ; legs, slate color ; inside of mouth, 

 fleshy white. 



Young — Without the black markings, which are replaced by ashy ; 

 upper parts, lighter. 



Downy young — Upper parts, pale grayish buff, mottled with black; 

 a dusky streak behind eye; forehead, band around neck, last 

 joint of wing and lower parts, white. 



Measurements — Length, 6.50 inches; wing, 4.25 inches; culmen, 

 .60 inch; tarsus, 1 inch; middle toe, .50 inch 



Eggs — Four in number ; ground color, light drab, finely dotted with 

 black about the larger end ; measure 1.18 by .95 inches. 



Habitat — Breeds from southern and central California and Utah, 

 and possibly Wyoming, to western Nebraska ( ?), southern Kan- 

 sas and Texas, and probably western Florida, and possibly in 

 Central and South America. Winters from southern California 

 and Louisiana, south on both coasts of Central America to Vene- 

 zuela, Chili, and Paraguay. Recorded from Cuba and Ontario. 



The snowy plover is found on the coast of 

 southern California, inland as far as the Great 

 Salt Lake. It is abundant on the ocean beaches, 

 frequenting the high, dry sand, and has many of 

 the habits of the piping plover. The bird is gen- 

 erally silent, and the soft coloring of its plumage 

 blends perfectly with the surroundings. Along 

 the California shore this plover remains through 

 the winter, breeding in May. The nest is a mere 

 depression in the sand, and several pair are often 

 found in a comparatively small area. The eggs 



