Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of AmericaAudubon, John James
Science
Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America
Audubon, John James
Birds -- North America
“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 colour of the grey 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.”
The skin from which I made my drawing was that of a female; and it is
my opinion, that the male, when found, will have as distinct markings
as those exhibited by _Charadrius melodus_ or _Ch. semipalmatus_.
CHARADRIUS MONTANUS, ROCKY-MOUNTAIN PLOVER. _Townsend_,
Journ. Acad. of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii.
p. 192.
Adult Female. Plate CCCL.
Bill shorter than the head, straight, somewhat cylindrical. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line straight to beyond the middle, then
bulging a little and curving to the rather acute tip, which projects
beyond that of the lower mandible, the sides flat and sloping at the
base, convex towards the end. Nasal groove extended to the middle of
the bill; nostrils basal, linear, open and pervious. Lower mandible
with the angle rather short, the sides at the base sloping outwards:
the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges sharp, the tip
rather acute.
Head of moderate size, oblong, the forehead rounded. Legs rather long
and slender; tibia bare half an inch above the joint; tarsus slender,
compressed, covered with angular scales, of which the anterior are much
larger; toes short, slender, with numerous scutella above, marginate,
the outer connected with the middle by a short membrane. Claws small,
compressed, slightly arched, rather acute.
Plumage soft, the feathers rather distinct on the upper parts, blended
on the lower. Wings long and pointed; primary quills tapering, the
first longest by a quarter of an inch, the rest rapidly graduated;
inner secondaries tapering and elongated, one of them nearly as long
as the outer primary when the wing is closed. Tail of moderate length,
even, of twelve feathers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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