=277. Piping Plover= (_Ãgialitis meloda_). L. 7; B. short, .5. Very pale above. _Ads._ Above ashy, crown and _sides_ of breast black; no rusty. _Yng._ Similar, but black replaced by ashy gray. _Notes._ A short plaintive, _piping_ whistle, repeated.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from Virginia to Newfoundland; winters from Florida southward.
=277a. Belted Piping Plover= (_Ã. m. circumcincta_). Similar to No. 277 but black on sides of breast meeting to form a breast band.
Range.--Mississippi Valley; breeds from northern Illinois and Nebraska north to Lake Winnipeg, east to Magdalen and Sable Islands; winters from Gulf southward; casual migrant on Atlantic coast.
=278. Snowy Plover= (_Ãgialitis nivosa_). L. 6.5. No complete ring. _Ads._ Black on crown; ear-coverts and sides of breast black. _Yng._ The same, but no black; above margined with whitish. _Winter._ Same as last but no whitish margins.
Range.--Western United States east to Texas and Kansas; breeds from Indian Territory and southern California northward; winters from Texas and southern California southward.
=280. Wilson Plover= (_Ochthodromus wilsonius_). L. 7.5; B. .8. No black on hindneck. _Ad._ [Male]. One black breast-and crown-band; some rusty about head. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but black areas brownish gray. _Yng._ Same as last, but above margined with whitish. _Winter._ No whitish margins.
Range.--Tropical and temperate America; breeds north to Virginia, Gulf States, and Lower California; winters southward to Brazil; casual north to Nova Scotia.
Order X. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, BOB-WHITES, ETC.
Family 1. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, etc. Tetraonidæ. 21 species, 22 subspecies.
Family 2. TURKEYS, PHEASANTS, etc. Phasianidæ. 1 species. 3 subspecies.
Family 3. CURASSOWS and GUANS. Cracidæ. 1 species.
The members of the family Tetraonidæ are usually placed in three subfamilies as follows: (1.) Perdicinæ, containing the true Quails and Partridges of the Old World and with no species in America. (2.) Odontophorinæ, including the Bob-whites and so-called 'Quails' and 'Partridges' of the New World, and with no species in the eastern hemisphere. (3.) Tetraoninæ, the Grouse, with representatives in the northern parts of both hemispheres. All the members of the first two families have the legs bare, while the Grouse have the legs, and often even the toes, more or less feathered.