ral portions north to Manitoba, and wintering in California and
southward.

A very peculiar species, inhabiting even the driest portions of the
western prairies. It is 9 inches in length, and has a plumage of a pale
buffy tone. It seems to be less aquatic than any other American Plover
and is rarely found in the vicinity of bodies of water. It nests on the
ground anywhere on the prairie, laying its eggs in a slight hollow. The
eggs are brownish gray in color and are spotted and blotched with
blackish brown. Data.--Morgan county, Colorado, May 7, 1902. Nest a
slight hollow on the ground, near a large cactus bed and close to a
water hole. No lining to nest. Collector, Glenn S. White.

[Illustration 170: Olive gray.]
[Illustration: Wilson's Plover. Mountain Plover.]
[Illustration: Brownish gray.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 169

SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. Family APHRIZIDAE

282. Surf Bird. _Aphriza virgata._

This species, which is found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to Chili,
seems to be the connecting link between the plovers and the Turnstones,
having the habits of the latter combined with the bill of the former.
Its nest and eggs are not known to have been yet discovered.

283. TURNSTONE. _Arenaria interpres._

Range.--The distribution of this species, which is grayer above than the
following, is supposed to be confined, in America, to the extreme north
from Greenland to Alaska. Its habits and eggs are precisely like the
next.

283a. RUDDY TURNSTONE. _Arenaria interpres morinella._

Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions, and migrates through all parts of
the United States, south to the southern parts of South America. This
species has the upperparts variegated with reddish brown, black and
white; the underparts are pure white, except for a black patch on the
throat, branching upward to the eye and back to the sides of the breast.
It has a peculiar, slightly up-turned bill, which is used, as their name
implies, for turning over pebbles and stones in their search for food.
They nest commonly in northern Labrador, about Hudson Bay and in Alaska,
laying their eggs in scantily lined hollows on the ground, near water.
The eggs are very peculiar and beautiful, having a light grayish or
cream color ground, peculiarly marbled with many shades of brown and
lilac. Size 1.65 x 1.10. Data.--Mackenzie River, Arctic America, June
28, 1900. Four eggs in a grass lined depression in