MOVNTAIN PLOVER. 
359 
r 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 10-40; stretch, 22 - 25; wing, 7"25; tail, 
2 75; bill, '85; tarsus, 175. Longest specimen, 10*80; greatest extent of wing, 23-00; longest wing, 7-50; tail, 3‘00; bill, 
•95; tarsus, 1 90. Shortest specimen, 10 - 00; smallest extent of wing, 21 - 50; shortest wing, 7*00; tail, 2-40; bill, ’80; tarsus, 
1*50. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs, placed on the ground in a hollow scratched in the soil, with a little grass, etc.; two to four in number, pyriform 
in shape, deep chocolate-brown in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with large confluent markings of brown of vary¬ 
ing shades. Dimensions from 1'35 x 1'80 to l - 45 x 2-10. 
HABITS. 
The Golden Plovers differ somewhat in habit from the Beetle Heads^ thus, although 
they remain in Massachusetts about as late as the latter named species, they arrive earlier; 
their notes are mellower and given in greater variety, for besides the whistle which is ut¬ 
tered while flying, they have a peculiar chuckling note, when about to alight. They are 
also fond of the open wind-sw T ept hill-tops near the coast, where they feed upon grasshop¬ 
pers, but occasionally a straggler will alight on a beach or marsh. In migration, they are 
again peculiar, for although very common during autumn along the eastern coast, I never 
knew of a specimen being taken here in spring; nor did I ever meet with one in Florida. 
They pass quite out of the United States, spending the winter in South America and ad¬ 
jacent islands. On their return to the northern breeding grounds, they merely pass through 
the country, west of the Mississippi, but nest in the same section as the Black Bellies, like 
them, placing the eggs on the ground on some slight elevation. 
GENUS III. iEGIALITIS. THE RINGED PLOVERS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, short, not as long as the head which is of moderate size. Tail, rounded or nearly square. Hind toe, 
absent. 
Members of this genus are quite uniform in color above and white below, usually with a conspicuous black ring a- 
round neck, The eyes are large. 
J3GIALITIS MONT ANUS. 
Mountain Plover. 
JEgialitis montanus Baird, Birds. N. A.; 1858, 693. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Plate XV. Adult. 
Sp. Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, large. Bill, long and slender. Tail, square. Tertiaries, nearly reaching the 
tips of wings. Sexes, similar. 
Color. Adult. Above, pale yellowish-brown, becoming lighter on the rump. Primaries and tail, brown, the former 
tipped with black, and the latter narrowly tipped with white, preceded by a broad band of black. Forehead and line over 
eye, white, above and below which is one of black extending to eye. Under parts, yellowish-white, tinged with a deeper 
shade on the breast and sides. 
Young. Lacks the black band in front and the white of forehead is tinged with dull yellow. Bill, black, iris, brown, 
and legs, yellow, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the large size, lack of rings on the breast, combined with the uniform pale yellowish-brown above. 
Distributed throughout the United States, west of the Mississippi Valley. Rare at Key West in winter. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Western North America. Length, 9 - 00; stretch, 18-32; wing, 6‘25; tail,2'75; 
bill, 85; tarsus, 1-65. Longest specimen, 9-10; greatest extent of wing, 18-75; longest wing, 6 75; tail, 2-95; bill, -90; 
tarsus, 1 60. Shortest specimen, 8'90; smallest extent of wing, 18 - 00; shortest wing, 5'50; tail, 2 60; bill, -80; tarsus, P 4 5 
