294 KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
AEGIALITIS MELODA (Ord). 
Piping Plover. 
Adult in summer: Upper parts ashy; forehead white, 
separated from the ash color of the head by a narrow patch 
of black; a band on the side of the breast black; under 
parts and a ring around the neck white. 
Adult in winter: Similar to the summer plumage, but 
the black marking replaced by grayish buff or ashy gray 
instead of black. Bill orange at base, tipped with black. 
Length, 7.20; Wing, 4.80; Tarsus, .g0; Bill, .5o. 
Ranges from Labrador to the West Indies 
and South America.. It is a common species 
on the New England coast during the migra- 
tions, and is a regular winter visitant to Florida, although not abundant. 
The Piping Plover breeds from Virginia to Labrador and Newfoundland. 
The eggs are dull white marked with dark brown. 
AEGIALITIS MELODA CIRCUMCINCTA Ridgw. 
Belted Piping Plover. 
It is similar to A” seloda, but differs in having an unbroken black band from the sides 
around in front of the neck. 
This species occurs on the coast during the migrations. I am not aware 
that it has been recorded from Florida, but it no doubt occurs there. 
SuscGENuS OCHTHODROMUS Retcu. 
AEGIALITIS WILSONIA (Ord.). 
Wilson’s Plover. 
Adult male: Avove ashy brown; forehead white, extending into a faint superciliary stripe 
of dull black on the crown; throat white, continuing on the sides of the neck, nearly joining 
upon the nape; a black pectoral band, the feathers edged with white, becoming brown upon 
the sides; under parts white; two central tail feathers brown, the others showing increasing 
markings of white to the outer tail feathers, which are white; bill black (large and stout); legs 
pinkish. 
