SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 469 



range is also a favorable element in its maintenance, and we may even 

 look to an increase in aggregate numbers. It was formerly recognized 

 to a small extent as a game species, and eveij sometimes shot as a nui- 

 sance by the hunter when stalking game. However, we see no reason 

 why the Killdeer should for a moment be considered a game bird. Its 

 small size and the fact that its flesh is not of the best, being described 

 as fishy or musky in flavor, argue that it had far better be classed 

 among those species which are of marked value to the agriculturalist. 



Semipalmated Plover 



Aegialitis semipalmata (Bonaparte) 



Other names — Semipalmated King Plover; Eing Plover; Aegialeus semi- 

 paJmatus. 



Description — Adult mule: Stripe across forehead at base of bill, continuing 

 backwards below eye to expand somewhat on ear region, black; band across 

 middle of forehead, white, surmounted by a broader transverse band of black 

 across forepart of crown between eyes; spot on lower eyelid, white; back of 

 head, brown; chin and whole throat broadly pure white; hind neck crossed 

 by a white collar connected with white of throat, and below this by a black 

 one continuous with black chest band; iris brown; bill orange at base, black on 

 terminal half; upper surface of body, nearly uniform brown; outermost upper 

 tail coverts chiefly white; tail feathers brown with tips of inner ones blackish, 

 tips of next outer ones blackish subterminally with increasing amounts of 

 white, and the outermost pair pure white; outer surface of closed wing brown 

 like back; greater coverts tipped with white, this, together with small white 

 areas on inner flight feathers, forming a narrow bar on expanded wing; flight 

 feathers and primary coverts blackish brown; quills of primaries white on 

 their middle portions; margin of wing mottled white and light brown; lining 

 of wing, chiefly white; axillars, pure white; under surface of flight feathers 

 light drab; whole under surface of body white, save for conspicuous single 

 black band across upper chest which joins the narrower one on hind neck 

 forming a complete collar; legs and feet orange. Adult female: Like adult male, 

 but with black bands narrower and brown itinged. Males: Total length 6.87- 

 8.05 inches (174-204 mm.) (six specimens from California) ; folded wing 4.51- 

 4.90 (114.5-124.3); bill along eulmen 0.46-0.50 (11.6-12.7); tarsus 0.89-0.97 

 (22.5-24.7) (ten specimens from California and Alaska). Pemales: Total length 

 6.94^7787 (176-200) (seven specimens from California); folded wing 4.43-4.92 

 (112.7-124.7); bill along eulmen 0.43-0.50 (11.0-12.6); tarsus 0.87-0.96 (22.2- 

 24.3) (ten specimens from California and Alaska). Juvenile plumage: Like 

 that of adults but with black bands all replaced by dark brown ones, chest 

 band narrowed near mid-line, and feathers of entire upper surface narrowly 

 tipped with pale buffy, giving a faintly scaled appearance. Natal plumage: 

 Top and sides of head and whole upper surface of body (except hind neck) 

 mixed black, yellowish and whitish buff, in fine pattern; broad collar on neck, 

 white, preceded by a narrow black band at edge of mottled pattern on head; 

 spot between bill and eye, black; whole under surface white; bill black; legs 

 and feet (dried) yellowish brown; nails dusky. 



