22 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



out the more open country, from Massachusetts to 

 Texas, and the plumed California and allied species 

 occur in the southwest, frequenting the thickets of 

 the prairies, or along the mountain-sides. 



Charadriidje: Plovers. — These are, as a rule, 

 maritime birds, especially during the southward 

 migrations, but many of the species breed in the 

 interior, and the kildeer and mountain plovers are 

 always more common on bodies of fresh water. 

 None of the species are, however, found far from 

 water, but they all alight in dry fields in search 

 of food. 



H.ematopodid/E : Ovster-catcheRs and Turn- 

 stones. — All these birds inhabit the seacoast. 

 They occur in oyster-beds or among rocks. 



Recurvirostrid^e : Avocets and Stilts. — 

 Both these species are birds of the interior, being 

 found in the south and west in the vicinity of 

 water. 



Phaleropodid.e : Phaleropes. — These singu- 

 lar birds are found off the coast, often far out at 

 sea during winter, but, oddly enough, breed in the 

 interior, nesting throughout the northwest and 

 north. They are, however, occasionally found on 

 the coast during the northward migration, especially 

 during storms. 



