598 
SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — LIMICOLjE. 
are crested. These are all near Vanellus proper, and a part of them are 4-toed. Our species 
are found along the seashore, by the water's edge in other open places, and in dry plains and 
fields. They all perform extensive migrations, appearing with great regularity in the spring 
and fall, and most of them breed far northward. They are all more or less gregarious, except 
when breeding. They run and fly with great rapidity ; the voice is a mellow whistle ; the 
food is chiefly of an animal nature. The eggs are commonly four in number, speckled, very 
large at one end and pointed at the other, placed with the small ends together in a slight nest 
or mere depression in the ground. The sexes are generally similar, but the changes with age 
and season are great. 
Analysis of Genera. 
Toes 4. 
Head not crested. 
Tarsi scutellate in front ; toes cleft to base Aphriza 221 
Tarsi reticulate ; toes with basal web Squatarola 216 
Head with a long flowing crest Vanellus 220 
Toes 3. 
Plumage of upper parts speckled ; no rings or bands of color about head or neck . . . Charadrius 217 
Plumage of upper parts not speckled ; rings or bands of color about head and neck. 
Tarsus not nearly twice as long as middle toe without claw ^gialites 218 
Tarsus about twice as long as middle toe without claw Podasocys 219 
216. SQUATARO'LA. (Ital. squatarola, name of the species. Fig. 416.) Four-toed Plover. 
A small but distinct hind toe, contrary to the rule in this family. Tail less than half as long as 
wing. Tarsus much longer than middle toe and 
claw. Tibia bare below, reticulate like the 
tarsus. Basal web between outer and middle 
toes. Upper plumage speckled, lower black or 
white ; no rings or bars of color about head or 
neck. Legs dark-colored. Tail fully barred. 
Seasonal changes of plumage very great ] sexes 
alike. 
580. S. helve'tica. (Lat. Helvetica, Helvetian, Swiss. 
Fig. 417.) Swiss Plover. Black-bellied 
Plover. Bull-head Plover. Whistling 
Field Plover. Ox-eye. 9 , in summer : 
Upper parts fretted with blackish and ashy-white. Fig. 416. — Bill and hind toe of Squatarola, nat. 
the feathers being white basally, then black, size. (Ad nat. del. E. c.) 
tipped and usually scalloped with white. Upper tail-coverts mostly white, with few dark 
touches. Fore-head, line over eye and thence more broadly over side of neck, the lining of 
wings, tibiae, vent and under tail-coverts, white. Sides of head to an extent embracing the 
eyes, axillary plumes, and entire under parts (except as said), black. Tail closely barred with 
black and white. Primaries dark brown, blackening at tips, with large basal areas and a 
portion of their shafts, white. Bill and feet black. Length 11.00-12.00; wing 7.00-7-50; 
tail 3.00; bill 1.00-1.25 ; tarsus 2.00; middle toe and claw 1.33; tibiae bare 1.00. But such 
a bird as this rarely seen in the U. S. $ 9 ^ dd, in fall and winter, as usually seen in U. S. 
Under parts white or whitish, anteriorly speckled or mottled with grayish -brown ; axillary 
plumes, however, black, as before ; a good color-mark of the species, in any plumage, in com- 
parison with the golden plover. Birds changing show every mixture of black and white below. 
$ 9 ' young : Similar to winter adults, but upper parts speckled with golden -yellow, as in 
C. dominicus, most of the feathers having edgings of this color. Feet grayish-blue. A large 
stout plover, with a little hind toe, commonly difi'used over most parts of the world : in America, 
breeding in Arctic regions, flocking south and north in fall and spring, preferably coastwise ; 
common, but less so than C. dominicus. Eggs 4, pyriform, 1.90 to 2.30 long by 1.40 to 1.45 
broad ; drab or dark brownish clay-color, very heavily marked, especially on the larger half of 
