BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 105 
nally, its basal angle rather prominent. Wing long and pointed, 
the longest primary (outermost) exceeding distal secondaries by much 
more than half the length of wing and extending decidedly beyond 
tip of longest tertials. Tail decidedly less than half as long as wing, 
slightly rounded or double-rounded, the lateral rectrices slightly 
shorter than middle pair. Tarsus long and relatively slender, twice 
as long as middle toe without claw, more than one-fourth as long as 
wing, covered with small hexagonal scales, these larger in front, 
where on lower portion forming transverse scutella, those on planta 
tarsi forming (at least sometimes) a single continuous series of small 
transverse scales; outer toe decidedly shorter than middle toe, the 
inner toe still shorter; a small web between basal phalanges of outer 
and middle toes, but none between inner and middle toes; claws 
very small and short, but rather strongly curved; hallux absent. 
Coloration.—Adults with ‘under parts immaculate dull white 
shaded on sides of chest with brownish buff; forehead and a broad 
superciliary stripe white; loral stripe and fore part of crown black; 
rest of upper parts buffy grayish brown, the feathers more or less 
distinctly margined with buff, the primaries, etc., dusky with outer 
webs of proximal quills white basally. 
Range.—Arid plains of temperate western North America. (Mono- 
typic.) ; 
PODASOCYS MONTANUS (J. K. Townsend). 
MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 
Adults im breeding plumage (sexes alike)—Forehead and super- 
ciliary stripe white; a narrow loral stripe, from bill to eye, and a patch 
on fore part of crown (sometimes covering whole crown) black; 
rest of upper parts buffy grayish brown, usually more or less tinged 
with buff or ochraceous, the feathers more or less distinctly margined 
with ochraceous or buffy; greater wing-coverts tipped with white; 
primaries dusky with whitish shafts, the proximal quills with basal 
portion of outer web white; tail grayish brown, tipped with whitish and 
crossed by a subterminal band of darker grayish brown or dusky; 
under parts (including lower portion of side of head) immaculate 
dull white, more or less distinctly shaded on chest with pale buffy 
grayish and, sometimes, tinged with buffy or ochraceous; bill black; 
iris dark brown; legs and feet dull light brownish yellow (in life). 
Winter plumage.—Similar to the summer plumage, but black 
loral streak and crown patch wanting (the latter replaced by grayish 
brown), and plumage in general more strongly suffused or tinged 
with buff. 
Young.—Similar to winter adults but whole side of head and 
neck, together with chest, deep. creamy buff, and feathers of upper 
parts distinctly margined with light buff. 
