178 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
Hab. Chiefly the Atlantic coast of the 
United States, north to southern Labra- 
dor; West Indies in winter. 
277. 42. meloda (Ord). Piping Plover. 
h?, Black patches on sides of chest more or less 
completely coalesced. Eggs 1.27 x .93, 
colored as in 4. meloda. Hab. Mississippi 
Valley, and north to Lake Winnipeg. 
277a. AE. meloda circumcincta Ripew. 
Belted Piping Plover. 
é. Bill much longer than middle toe (without claw), very slender, 
wholly black. 
Summer adult: Above light brownish gray, the crown 
and occiput often varying to light buff; forehead, 
superciliary region, lores, and lower parts pure 
white; patch on fore-part of crown, ear-coverts, and 
transverse patch on each side of chest black, usually 
much duller, or dusky grayish, in female. Winter 
plumage: Similar to summer dress, but black mark- 
ings replaced by brownish gray. Young: Similar to 
winter plumage, but feathers of upper parts distinctly 
bordered terminally with whitish. Downy young: 
Above pale grayish buff, interrupted by a white collar 
across hind-neck, the whole colored portion mottled 
with black; forehead, hand-wing, and lower parts 
white; a dusky streak behind eye. Length 6.25-7.00, 
wing 4.20-4.30, culmen about .60, tarsus .90-1.05, 
middle toe .55-.60. Hggs 1.21 x .87, pale dull buffy, 
speckled with dark brown and black. Hab. Western 
North America, south to Mexico, and, in winter, to 
Chili; western Cuba? 
278. A. nivosa Cass. Snowy Plover. 
@, Hind-neck without trace of white or dusky collar. 
e'. Bill very slender, the culmen equal to or longer than middle 
toe (without claw). 
Above grayish brown, the feathers with paler margins, 
more or less tinged with rufous, especially on crown, 
ear-coverts, and sides of neck; forehead, cheeks, and 
lower parts pure white, interrupted by a black band 
across chest; anterior half of crown and a distinct 
loral stripe black. Young: Black of crown and lores 
absent or barely indicated, and black chest-band nar- 
rower or even interrupted in middle portion. Wing 
3.70-4.15, culmen .60, depth of bill through base 
15-17, tarsus 1.00-1.10, middle toe 50-55. Hab. 
