Part 21

=Measurements=--Total length, including bill, which varies but little in this species, about 17 inches; wing, 9, and bill about 3-1/2 inches.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

(Charadrous squaterola)

The largest of the family =Charadridae= is the black-bellied plover. In its plumage, both summer and winter, it closely resembles the golden plover, as the black on the sides of the head, front of neck, breast and abdomen disappear from both species in their winter plumage. But, notwithstanding this, they can easily be distinguished by the small rudimentary hind toe of the black-bellied species, the other having but three toes. A few specimens of the golden plover have been taken on the Coast, but it is of rare occurrence. The black-bellied plover is reasonably common along the coast line, but it is not seen to any great extent in the interior valleys.

=Color=--Upper plumage, dull brown, mottled with gray, the top of the head being somewhat darker; under parts, nearly white and the sides and breast streaked with brown. In the summer the throat and belly are black.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually made on the uplands, where four eggs are deposited of a pale olive, spotted with brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, 11 inches; wing, 7-1/2, and bill, 1-1/4 inches.

THE MOUNTAIN PLOVER

(AEgialitis montana)

The mountain plover is very plentiful on the plains of southern California during the winter months. This little bird as a table delicacy is not surpassed by any of the long list of shore birds. In fact it is preferred by many to the far-famed jack snipe. It is an upland bird, feeding largely on insects, and rarely found near the marshes whether salt or fresh-water. In its winter plumage, as seen here, its underparts are white with the breast and upper parts of a brownish gray.

=Color=--Throat, breast and under parts, white; the rest of the plumage, light buffish gray; sometimes the breast will show a slight tinge of buff; axillars, white; bill, black. Three toes without web.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are placed on the uplands and contain three grayish eggs, spotted with brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, 8-3/4 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 9/10 of an inch.

THE SNOWY PLOVER

(AEgialitis nivosa)

The snowy plover is quite common from northern California to Mexico. It is a small bird and, while it is hunted but little, its flesh is quite delicate. In its winter plumage it is much lighter in color than any of the others named.

=Color=--Top of head, back of neck and back, buffish gray; forehead and under parts, white; a patch of dull brown just above the white of the forehead, and another of the same color on each side of the throat. Three toes without web.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are found throughout its range; they are nothing more than a depression in the sand and contain four grayish buff eggs, spotted with black.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 6-3/4 inches; wing, 4-1/4, and bill 5/8 of an inch.

THE RING-NECKED PLOVER

(AEgialitis semipalmata)

The ring-neck plover is a fairly common visitor during the winter months. It is usually seen on the coast or on other sandy shores. It may be known by its partially webbed feet.

=Color=--Forehead, chin and neck, white, with a faint streak of dull brown from the bill under the eye to the back of the neck; a band of dull, brownish gray on the breast; back and wings, ashy gray; under parts, white; bill, black with a spot of orange at the base. Three toes which are webbed for about half their length.

=Nest and Eggs=--Nests are made in the sand and contain from three to four dirty white eggs, spotted with brown. =Measurements=--Total length, 6-3/4 inches; wing, 4-3/4, and bill, 1/2 inch.

WILSON'S PLOVER

(AEgialitis wilsonia)

While the Wilson plover is found to some extent on the southern Atlantic Coast, it may properly be said to be a Pacific species. Here it is seen on the beaches in large numbers, just beyond the reach of the surf, picking the insects and minute shellfish as they are washed on the sand, or flying in flocks just above the breakers.

=Color=--Forehead and stripe over the eye, white; black stripe in front of crown; top of head and stripe from the eye to the bill, black; black band just below the throat; back, gray; under parts, white; bill black, and legs and feet, light pink.