PODASOCYS MONTANUS. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 
CHARADRIUS MONTANUS. Town. Jour. Acad. Scieu. Yol. VII. p. 192. (1837.) 
AEGIALETES MONTANUS. Bon. List. (1838.) 
PODASOCYS MONTANUS. Coitus. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (I860), p. 96. 
The Rocky Mountain Plover was discovered by Mr. Townsend in the central table lands of the great range from which it takes 
its name. He procured a female only, which he sent to Mr. Audubon with the following account : “ This remarkable species, so 
much allied to the Charadrius Wilsoni, was scarcely seen by us for more than one or two days, and then on the central table land of 
the Rocky Mountains, in the plains near the last of the streams of the Platte, pursued in our western and northern route. It being 
the month of July when we saw it, there is little doubt but that it was breeding in this subalpine region. 
“ The only individual shot was seen skulking and running through the wormwood bushes which so generally clothe those arid 
and dry wastes. After running some time, it would remain perfectly still, as if conscious of the difficulty of distinguishing it from 
the color of the gray soil on which it stood. 
“ All that we saw were similar to the present individual, and none, however flushed, took to the wing. We do not recollect 
hearing from it the slightest complaint or note of any kind, being intent probably on concealing its young or eggs by a perfect 
silence.” 
No further information regarding the habits of this species has been obtained. My plate contains representations of the male 
in full summer plumage, which has never before been given. 
It may be described as follows : 
The forehead white, separated from the dull olive of the head add neck by a black stripe. Upper parts brown, with some of 
the feathers frequently tipped with rufous. Upper tail-coverts pale brown. Primaries dark brown, their shafts white; tail brown tipped 
with white, with a subterminal bar of brownish black, a white space on the outer webs of the primaries forming a white patch on the 
wings. Entire under parts white, sometimes tinged with yellowish on the breast. Bill black ; legs yellow. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
