Birds of Indiana. 737 



Subgenus Chabadbius Linnaeus. 



114. (272). Gharadrius dominicus Mull. 



Golden Plover. 



American Golden Plover, Winter Plumage. 



Adult in Summer. — Black above, speckled with bright yellow; fore- 

 head and a broad line over the eye, white; tail feathers, grayish-brown, 

 with imperfect white or ashy bars; below, black; axillars, gray or ashy. 

 Winter. — Above, blackish, speckled with whitish and yellow; under 

 parts, as in last species. The absence of the small hind toe, in a bird 

 of this size, will determine any doubtful specimen. 



Length, about 10.50; wing, 6.80-7.30; culmen, .85-.90; tarsus, 1.50- 

 1.65. 



Eangb. — America, from Patagonia to Arctic Ocean. Breeds on the 

 coast and islands of Arctic America, except the coast of Bering Sea. 

 Winters from Florida and Louisiana southward. 



Nest, a hollow in ground, slightly lined with grass. Hggs, 4; varies 

 from pale bufEy-brown to dark grayish-buff, spotted and blotched with 

 brownish-black, chiefly at the larger end; 1.90 by 1.30. 



Migrant. Formerly very abundant over the original prairie region, 

 but are now seen in greatly reduced numbers, though still common, 

 and to the east and south of that quite rare. They usually migrate in 

 flocks of from 15 to 100. Sometimes there are hundreds and even 

 thousands seen in a flock in spring. They are found upon the mead- 

 ows, pastures and prairies in spring, and in fall, also, upon stubble and 

 plowed fields. Witt the occupation of the level land, the extension of 

 commercial enterprises, and the continued warfare upon the game 

 birds by the rapidly increasing population of our counties in north- 

 47— Geoi,. 



