KILDEER PLOVER. 23" 



dit, and te dit, as they waft themselves about over head, or 

 descend, and fly around you, is almost deafening. At the 

 same time, to carry out this appearance of distress, they run 

 along the ground, with hanging wings, counterfeiting lame- 

 ness to divert the intention of the intruder. Indeed no 

 person can now approach the breeding place, though at a 

 considerable distance, without being molested with their 

 vociferous and petulant clamor. During the evening, and 

 till a late hour, in moonlight nights, their cries are still 

 heard, both in the fall and spring. They seek their fare of 

 worms and insects often in the twilight, so that their habits 

 are, in some degree nocturnal, but they also feed largely on 

 grasshoppers, crickets, carabi, and other kinds which fre- 

 quent grassy fields by day. 



The flight of the Kildeer is remarkably vigorous, and 

 they sometimes proceed at a great height in the air. They 

 are also fond of washing themselves, and wading in the 

 pools, which they frequent for insects ; their gait is per- 

 fectly erect, and like most of their tribe, they run with great 

 celerity. As game, their flesh, like that of the Lapwing, is 

 musky, and not generally esteemed ; in the fall, however, 

 when fat, they are by some considered as well flavored. 

 Towards autumn, families descend to the sea shore, where 

 their behavior now becomes more circumspect and silent. 



This species is about 10 inches long, and 20 in alar extent. Bill 

 black. Fore part of the crown and auricular region, dark grey. 

 Eyelids scarlet. Iris black. A white stripe through and beyond the 

 eye. Primaries blackish, partly white on the inner webs; the secon- 

 daries with an irregular blotch of white on their outer vanes ; the 

 greater coverts broadly tipt with white. Rump and tail coverts, 

 tawny orange. Tail with the 2 middle feathers dark grey, the next 

 tipt with tawny, and the outer ones with a large indented spot of 

 white ; these are below tawny, and black towards the extremities ; 

 the outermost feathers elegantly barred with black on the inner web. 

 Legs and feet, yellowish-olive. (Old female.) 



