Part 21

Nest.—Is usually placed on pebbly “shingle” or back in the marsh grass on the bare ground; eggs are olive gray, scratched all over with markings of brown and gray (1.40 × 1.05).

Range.—Abundant on the Gulf Coast and of Lower and southern California.

MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 281. Podasocys montanus. 9 inches.

A peculiar species, inhabiting even the driest portions of the western prairies and plains even at high altitudes. It is more quiet, and seems to be less aquatic than any of the Plovers, and is rarely found in the vicinity of the water.

Nest.—Placed on the bare ground in a simple hollow are four eggs, brownish gray, spotted and blotched with shades of brown (1.50 × 1.10).

SNOWY PLOVER. 278. Ægialitis nivosa. 6½ inches.

This is the palest of the Plovers, and one of the smallest. A small black crescent-shaped patch on either side of the breast; a black spot under and back of the eye, and one also on top of the head. They are about the color of the dry sands of the beach, and the young when hatched and running about resemble a small bunch of cotton being blown about on the beach.

Nest.—A simple hollow in the sand placed just above high water, lined with pieces of broken shells. The eggs are about the color of the sand and it is almost impossible to see them a few feet away. Four eggs, clay colored; very lightly marked with fine dots (1.20 × .90).

Range.—Breeds along the Pacific coast of the United States. Winters from California to South America.

SURF-BIRD—Family Aphrizinæ. 282. Aphriza virgata. 10 inches.

This species, which is found on the Pacific coast, from Alaska to South America, seems to be the connecting link between the Plovers and Turnstones, having the habits of the latter combined with the bill of the former.

BLACK TURNSTONE. 284. Arenaria melanocephala. 9 inches.

Upper parts a greenish black color; head, neck, breast and throat black; a white spot in front of eye and on forehead; under parts white.

Nest.—In the far north on the shores of Alaska and more northern islands, laying their sets of four eggs in hollows with a few grasses for lining; the eggs are light gray, marked with various shades of brown and lilac (1.60 × 1.10).

Range.—Pacific coast of North America, wintering to Lower California.

RUDDY TURNSTONE. 283a. Arenaria interpres morinella. 10 inches.

This species has the upper parts variegated with reddish brown, black and white; the under parts are pure white with a wide black band across the breast, as in illustration. It has a peculiar, slightly upturned bill, which is used, as the name implies, for turning over pebbles and stones in their search for food. From the coloring the bird is known as “Calico-bird,” “Checkered Snipe,” etc.

Nest.—About Hudson Bay and Alaska; eggs laid in a hollow in the ground near water. Four eggs (1.65 × 1.10).

BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER—Family Hæmatopodidæ. 287. Hæmatopus bachmani. 17 inches.

The plumage on this bird is entirely black, with a bluish wash on the upper parts, and brownish black below. They are found upon the rocky coasts and islands more frequently than on the sandy beaches. Their eggs are laid upon the rocks or small pebbles with no attempt at nest building; three or four eggs are laid of an olive buff color spotted and blotched with shades of black and brown (2.20 × 1.55). Found on the Pacific coast of North America, from Lower California to Alaska.

FRAZAR OYSTER-CATCHER. 286.1. Hæmatopus frazari. 18 inches.

This is very similar to the American Oyster-catcher; possibly having the colors a little darker on the back. Bill very long, heavy, compressed, and thin and chisel-like at the tip. Bill and eyes red; legs flesh color; under parts white, and a white wing bar. These are large, awkward looking birds, and are not uncommon in their somewhat restricted range in Lower California.

Order GALLINÆ.

BOB-WHITE—Family Odontophoridæ. 289. Colinus virginianus. 10 inches.

This is one of the most celebrated of the “Game Birds,” or best known. Throughout New England it has been so persistently hunted that it is getting to be a rare bird; it gets to be more common as we go south as far as Florida, and through the middle west. It has been introduced in many places on the Pacific coast, and now is fairly abundant in parts of California, Oregon and Washington. They feed largely upon insects and grain, and about the grain fields is where they are mostly found.

Nest.—These are built along the roadsides or beside stone walls or any dry locality affording good shelter. It is concealed in the tall grass or weeds, and arched over with grass. They lay from ten to twenty pure white eggs. Often two broods are reared in a season (1.20 × .95).

MASKED BOB-WHITE. 291. Colinus ridgwayi. 10 inches.

This handsome species is marked similar to the “Bob-white” on the upper parts, but has a black throat, and the rest of the under parts are of a reddish brown.