BIRDS CHAEADKIDAE AEGIALITIS. 
691 
southern regions, and visiting also other continents. It has been found occasionally in Europe, 
and bears a very strong resemblance to a species of that continent, Charadrius pluvialis ; in fact, 
so close is the similarity that the color of the axillary feathers is the most ready distinction for 
recognition, white, in G. pluvialis; ashy, C. virginicus. 
This species varies somewhat in the colors of its plumage, and it is rare to meet with speci- 
mens, in the middle or southern States of this republic, in the full plumage of the nuptial season 
or with the under parts pure black, though frequently spotted, and showing a tendency to that 
color. It is of common occurrence throughout the United States. 
List of specimens. 
Catai. 
No. 
745 
1706 
10408 
8679 
5425 
5427 
5426 
4551 
Union county, III 
Hudson's bay 
J5 miles below Ft. Pierre 
Nebraska 
Fort Berthold, Neb 
Fort Pierre, Neb 
St. Mary's Mission, 
Rocky 
.do. 
Imlianola, Texas. , 
Ta ilipan, Mcxk 
Oct. 3, 1843 
Sept. 23, 1842 
Sept. 24, 1844 
April 21 
Sept. 16, 18.56 
Oct. 21, 1855 
Oct. 1, 1853 
.do., 
N. W. University.... R. Kcnnicott 
Jobn Gould 
Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden. 
do do 
.do. 
.do., 
Capt. Pope . . . 
Lieut. Coucb . 
10.40 
10.75 
10.25 
10.72 
10.50 
10.75 
10.25 
21.75 
22.75 
22.25 
23.00 
22.05 
22.00 
21.25 
dark brown ; feet dark 
AEGIALITIS, Boie. 
Jlegialitis, Boie, Isis, 1822, 558. Type Charadrius hiaticula, L. 
Jegialites, Kaup, 1829. 
Ch.— Plumage more or less uniform, without spots. Neck and head generally with dark bands. Front of the legs with 
plates arranged vertically, of which there are two or three in a transversa series. 
This genus, as far as North America is concerned, is distinguished from Charadrius by the 
generally lighter color and greater uniformity of the plumage ; by the absence of continuous 
black on the belly, and by the presence of dusky bands on the neck or head ; the size is smaller. 
The tarsi, in most species, have the front plates larger and conspicuously different in this respect 
from the posterior ones. 
