206 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 



small, compressed, slightly arched, slender but obtuse at the end, the inner 

 edge of the middle claw dilated. 



Plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed, the feathers rounded. Wings long 

 and pointed; primary quills tapering, the first longest, the second a little 

 shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; outer secondaries short, broad, obliquely 

 rounded, inner tapering and elongated. Tail rather short, rounded, of 

 twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill black. Iris brown. Feet bluish-grey. The upper part of the head, 

 the fore part of the back, and the scapulars are beautifully variegated with 

 brownish-black and bright yellow, the latter in spots along the edges of the 

 feathers. The hind part of the back greyish-brown, variegated with yellow 

 of a duller tint; the tail brown, barred with white. The wings are hair- 

 brown, the smaller coverts spotted with yellowish-white, the primary coverts 

 and secondaries tipped with white. The inner secondaries like the scapu- 

 lars. Part of the forehead, the loral space, a band over the eye, and the 

 throat, are greyish-white; the sides of the neck and body variegated with 

 brown, dull white and yellowish. The breast and a broad band down the 

 fore-neck are brownish-black, the latter margined on each side with white. 

 Axillar feathers, and lower tail-coverts, white. 



Length to end of tail 10j- inches, to end of wings 10^, to end of claws 11|; 

 extent of wings 22-|; wing from flexure 7; tail 3 T 2 f ; bill along the back \%, 

 along the edge of lower mandible l^j bare part of tibia j%; tarsus 1 T 7 2, mid- 

 dle toe 1-j^, its claw ys- Weight 5| oz. 



Adult in winter. 



The black on the lower parts is peculiar to the breeding season; and after 

 the autumnal moult, they become of a light greyish colour, spotted and 

 streaked with deep grey. In other respects the plumage is similar to that 

 described above. 



Length to end of tail lOf, to end of claws 11^; extent of wings 22%. 

 Weight 4^ oz. 



Light coloured variety. 



Bill and feet greyish-blue. Iris deep brown. Upper part of head and 

 back mottled with black and pale yellow; wing-coverts greyish, with white 

 and dusky spots, as are the sides of the head and the throat; a broad band of 

 white over the eye; fore part of neck pale grey, fading into pale cream- 

 colour and white; the breast and fore-neck with large spots of black. 



This individual was killed in the breeding season. 



