155 
Distribution. Eastern North America, west across the prairies but scarce west of 
Manitoba and not recorded from British Columbia. Breeds wherever found in Canada. 
A small, delightful Shore Bird, tuneful as well as beautiful. It is 
decidedly a sand-beach bird and is never seen in grassy or marshy situ- 
ations. 
Snowy Plover. Charadrius nivosa. It is similar in size and general coloration to 
the Piping Plover. It has a slight black bar, back from the eye, but no breast-band, just 
a Bingle black spot on either side of the shoulders where such a band would begin. The 
bill, which is longer, is all black. 
Has been taken in the state of Washington and may occur at any time 
in parts of British Columbia. 
281. Mountain Plover. Podasocys montanus. L, 7-25. Smaller than the Killdeer, 
but much larger than either of the little Ring Plovers, which it resembles in coloration. 
Distinctions. Has a dark forehead bar like the Piping Plover, no breast-band at all, 
and a black bar from the base of bill to eye. 
Field Marks. Too rare in Canada for its record here to be accepted on field evidence. 
Distribution. Western United States. Breeding on western plains, northward to 
nearly Canadian border. Included in this volume because of specimens taken in 1874 on 
the International Boundary survey near Frenchman river, Saskatchewan. 
A bird of the dry uplands, almost independent of water. Occasional 
birds may possibly be noted in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, as it 
was originally not uncommon in central Montana and still occurs there. 
FAMILY APHRIZIDAE. SURF-BIRDS AND TURNSTONES 
A small family composed of two single-genera subfamilies of not very 
close relationship, Aphrizinae the Surf-birds, and Arenarinae the Turnstones. 
They have no plainly defined common characteristics suitable for exposition 
here, and are probably lumped together for the sake of convenience. 
Subfamily — Aphrizinae. The Surf-birds 
The Surf-birds are described by Dr. Coues as being Plover masquer- 
ading under the guise of Sandpipers. As there is but one species, a general 
description will be given under it. 
282. Surf -bird. Aphriza virgaia. L, 9 ‘50. A rather large Shore Bird. Bill, plover- 
like with enlarged homv tip longer and more slender than usual with that family; short 
legs and fleshy feet with small but well-developed hind toe 
(Figure 181). Adult: in spring, greyish-brown above with 
some creamy feather edges and an "irregular admixture of 
chestnut, working into stripes at the neck and crown and 
over the face and foreneck. Below, on flanks and breast, 
white heavily spotted and V-marked with greyish brown. 
Spots more or less veiled and coalesced on breast. Base of 
tail and rump white, remainder of tail dark. The juvenile is 
coloured very much like a juvenile Knot; greyish slate above, 
white below with foreneck and breast heavily streaked. 
Rump white. 
Distinctions. Spring plumage more like the spring 
Wandering Tattler than anything else, but the grey is browner 
and distinctly marked on back and breast instead of 
plain; below, decidedly spotted instead of barred. Juvenile in general colour is halfway 
between the autumn Knot and the Wandering Tattler. Back, evenly grey, tending towards 
the ashy of the Knot and with similar fine, white, semicircular feather edge markings. 
The breast is more heavily striped and spotted than in either, and the white rump is dis- 
tinctive. 
Bill and foot of Surf-bird; 
scale, $. 
