FAM. XXXVIII. PLOVERS 231 



2. American Golden Plover (272. Charddrius domlnicus). — As 

 seen iu the United States, a short-billed, three-toed shore 

 bird, with the entire upper parts blackish, brightly dotted and 

 marked with golden and whitish spots, and the lower parts 

 grayish-white, with brownish streakings on the sides. In late 

 spring, while migrating northward, some of these birds are 

 seen with the black bellies of the breeding season. These 

 graceful, quick-moving birds are found in marshes and old 

 fields as well as on the sand flats exposed by the tide. They 

 have the habit, common among plovers, of rapidly running a 

 few yards, then stopping, elevating the head and looking 

 around. (Greenback.) 



Length, 9^-11; wing, 7 (6|-7f) ; tail, 3; tarsus, If; culmen, |. 

 America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering from Florida to 

 Patagonia. 



3. Killdeer (273. j^gialltis vodfera). — A common, noisy, 

 active, beautifully marked, short-billed, three-toed, brown- 

 backed, white-bellied plover, with two dark bands across the 

 breast, the upper one extending around the neck. The rump 

 is very brightly colored, often decidedly red, and the wings have 

 much black and white. This bird is very abundant, spending 

 most of the time on the ground, often far from water. Its 

 shrill notes give it its name, M-dee. Though scattered while 

 feeding, it usually moves in flocks when on the wing. 



Length, 10| ; wing, 6,; (6-6|) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, U ; culmen, f. United 

 States, north to Newfoundland and Manitoba ; breeding throughout, and 

 wintering from Virginia to northern South America, including the West 

 Indies. 



4. Semipalmated Plover (274. ^gioTitiH semipalmMa). — K 

 common, short-billed, ashy-brown-backed, white-bellied plover, 

 with a rather broad, complete ring of black around the neck, 

 and distinctly marked black, white, and brown head, including 

 a black baud from the eye to the bill. The female has the 

 neck band and head markings brown instead of black. This 

 is an abundant seacoast plover, with the toes nearly half 



