THE KILDEER PLOVER. 215 
» well-known cry of “Kildeer! Kildeer! dee, dee, 
dee!” At such times their flight is powerful and 
easy, somewhat resembling that of the smaller Hawks. 
Now and then one may be seen following in the track 
Ys FATS 
Kildeer Plover. 
of the ploughman, picking up the grubs and worms 
from the fresh soil. And again you may find him 
coursing along the shores of some running stream, 
or upon the muddy banks of a mill-pond, feeding 
upon the snails or mud-worms which abound in such 
places. Sometimes it wades into the water to wash 
and plume its coat, and laying itself down, flutters 
its wings and splashes about in great glee, until it 
becomes pretty well soaked, when it retires to a sunny 
spot to dry. 
The nest of this bird is a simple affair, being as 
a general thing merely a hollow scooped out of the 
earth, and, when in a wet situation, a few stems are 
placed around it as a protection. The eggs are four 
