\ 



54 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



11)11 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 130). Taken every fall l)y hunters at Flathead Lake 

 (Sioanaker, MS). These are the only records. 



yo. Charadrius dominicus dominicus ( Midler ) 



Golden PivOver 



A migrant in the eastern part of the state. There are no records west of the 

 continental divide, and records east of it are not common. Kcported at St. 

 Mary's Lake, October 1, 1853, by Suckley (Baird, 1858, p. 691). A migi-ant in 

 the Big Horn region (McChesney, 1879, p. 2392). Regular migrant in Fergus 

 County, common eastward (Silloway, 1903a, p. 23). Occasional fall migrant in 

 Custer and Daw.son counties. Flocks seen September 9, 16 and 30, 1898 (Cam- 

 eron, lf)()7, p. 255). Abundant near Billings in August and early September, 

 1!)17, the last seen September 10 (Thomas, MS). 



91. Oxyechus vociferus (Linnaeus) 



KiLLDEER 



A very abundant sunnner resident throughont the state, recorded by all 

 observers. Occurs in the prairies and valleys of the mountains, in the Cpper 

 Sonoran and Transition zones, but not in the mountains themselves. In the Bit- 

 terroot Valley it is reported as a permanent resident, and it is also recorded in 

 winter from other points west of the continental divide. 



Nesting data: Indications are that this species begins nesting in late April 

 or early May. The ])irds leave the flocks in which they arrive, and are scattered 

 out in pairs on the breediug grounds, by the second week' in April. There are 

 few definite dates of nesting on recojxl, however, though the species undoubtedly 

 is oru' of the commonest breeding ])irds of the state. ]\Iilk River, four eggs, June 

 30, 1874 (Coues, 1874b, ]>. 633). Bitterroot Valley, a nest with three eggs, 

 April 28, 1913, had four eggs April 30. Another nest found April 30, 1913, 

 with foiii' eggs, Avhich hatched May 18 and 19 (Bailey, MS). Young able to 

 fly have been seen in the Gallatin Valley early in June. 



Migration: This species arrives late in March or early in April. My 

 experience shows that the birds are first found in flocks in the larger river val- 

 leys, and eight or- ten days later scatter out in pairs to the breeding grounds, 

 I)laces that are often many miles from tlie nuiin river valleys, and a thousand 

 feet higher in elevation. Dates of spring arrival are as follows : Terry, average 

 April 6, earliest March 29, 1897 (Cameron) ; Big Sandy, average April 6. 

 earliest April 3, 1904 (Cooke, 1910a, p. 87) ; Gallatin Valley, April 2, 1909, 

 Silver Bow, Ai)ril 8, 1910 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 24); Collins, Teton County. 

 March 26, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a. p. 130); Helena, March 26, 1911; High- 

 wood, March 27, 1914, and Dutton, March 21, 1915, and Maivli 17. 1917 (Du- 

 Bois, i\IS). Fall migration appears to be in September or October. Few dates 

 are to be had, and these indicate little because so widely separated. Pioneer, 

 Powell County, September 13, 1910 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 24) ; Choteau, Octol)er 

 12, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 130) ; Dutton, October 12, 1916 (DuBois. MS). 



The occurrence of this six'cies in ^lontaua in winter seems to be something 



