KILLDEER. 163 



in the spring, and lingering along the shores and in the pasture fields 

 on their return in the fall. 



According to the " List of Birds of Western Ontario," they are 

 still regular visitors there, but only in small numbers. Near Ham- 

 ilton they have never been common. Small flocks of immature birds 

 are seen passing south in the fall occasionally, but not regularly. 



The Golden Plover in full breeding plumage is a very handsome 

 Vjird, but, like the Snow-bird and some others which breed in high 

 latitudes, it does not assume the nuptial dress till it reaches its 

 northern home, and by the time it gets back within the bounds of 

 civilization it has donned the sober garb of winter. 



Mr. White reports the Golden Plover as a regular visitant at 

 Ottawa during October. It is an abundant migrant in the North- 

 West, but none remain during the summer. It breeds abundantly 

 on the coast and islands of the Arctic Sea, and on the barren lands, 

 and again puts in an appearance at the usual stopping places on its 

 return trip in the fall. 



Genus ^GIALITIS Boie. 



Subgenus OXYECHUS Reichenbach. 



^GIALITIS VOCIFERA (Linn.). 



121. Killdeer. (273) 



Above, quaker-brown, with a greenish tinge, sometimes most of the feathers 

 tipped and edged with orange-brown; rump and upper tail coverts, orange- 

 brown; most of tail feathers, white at base and tip, suffused with orange-brown 

 in part of their length, and with one to three black bars ; secondaries, mostly 

 white ; and primaries, with a white space ; a black bar across the crown ; and 

 two black bands on the neck and breast ; forehead and entire under parts, except 

 as stated, white; bill, black; feet, pale; eyelids, scarlet. Length, 9-10 inches; 

 wing, 6 or more; tail, Sh, much rounded; tarsus, about l^. 



Hab. — Temperate North America, migrating in winter to tlie West Indies, 

 Central America and northern South America. 



Nest, in the grass or shingle, in the vicinity of water. 



Eggs, four, clay color, marked with blackish-brown. 



This is a noisy, well-known bird, generally distributed throughout 

 Ontario, and abundant in the North- West. In April, even before 

 the snow is quite gone, the shrill cry of the Killdeer is heard in the 

 upper air, as it circles around, surveying its old haunts, and selecting 

 a bare spot on which to settle. 

 11* 



