78 WATER BIRDS 



make more frantic efforts than the Killdeer to lead you 

 away in order that the young may escape : she feigns 

 broken wings, falls over and over on the ground, moan- 

 ing as if with pain, and begging you to capture her. But 

 the whole performance is only a feint, for when you 

 come up to her, she will fly away on swift, strong wings. 

 The favorite nesting ground is more or less stony, and 

 the little Killdeers, crouching motionless to hide, so 

 resemble the stones as to render discovery difficult. 

 They are very like the adults in form and markings, the 

 characteristic black bands across the upper breast pro- 

 claiming the kinship were other sign wanting. 



278. SNOWY PLOVER. — jEgiaUtis nivosa. 



Family : The Plovers. 



Length: 6.00-7.00. 



Adults in Summer : Upper parts pale buff-gray; forehead, cheeks, and 



under parts white ; bar across forehead, patch at back of cheeks, and 



patch at the side of chest black. 

 Adults in Winter: Black, replaced by grayish. 

 Young: Like winter adults, but feathers of the upper parts distinctly 



tipped with white. 

 Downy Young : Upper parts pale grayish buff, mottled with black ; 



white collar across neck ; under parts white. 

 Geographical Distribution : Western United States ; south in winter to 



Chili. 

 Breeding Range : Breeds wherever found in the United States ; through- 

 out California as far north as Pescadero. 

 Breeding Season: April and May. 

 Nest : A slight hollow in the sand ; unlined. 

 Eggs: 3; pale grayish buff, spotted with umber and black. Size 



1.20 X 0.90. 



The Snowy Plover is resident all the year round in 

 the southern part of California near the coast, and occurs 



