Descriptive List 147 



"European birds cross the Mediterranean, to and from Africa, at a point wliere soundings 

 indicate tliat a much closer land relation formerly existed; but the 400-mile flight from Jamaica 

 to northern South America, the 600-mile fhght from the nearest land to the Bermudas, or the 

 journey regularly made by the Tm-nstone and Ciolden Plover to Hawaii, 2,000 miles from the 

 nearest land, are evidently not to be explained in this way." (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Genus Oxyechus (Reichenb.) 

 130. Oxyechus vociferus vociferus {Linn.). Killdeer. 



Ads. — Forehead, a spot behind the eye, throat, and a ring around neck, a band on breast, 

 lower breast, and belly white; front of crowii, lores, a ring around neck, and a band on breast 

 black; crown and back grayish-brown tipped with rufous; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous; 

 inner tail-feathers erayish-brown, outer ones becoming rufous and white, all tipped with black 

 and wliite. L., 10.50; W., 6.50; Tar., 1.35; B., .75. (Chap., Birds ofE. N. A.) 



Range. — Breeds from Mexico to Canada; winters from New Jersey to Peru. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State, occurring more or less at all seasons, but most abundant 

 during the migrations. 



Fig. 110. Killdeer. 



The Killdeer is found throughout the State except, perhap.s, in the higher moun- 

 tains. It frequents the uplands, as well as the lake shores. In the central part of 

 the State, although breeding commonly, it is more plentiful during the migrations. 

 They are active and noisy birds, and if any are in the neighborhood one usually 

 knows of it. They may often be heard calling at night as they fly about the fields. 

 On the ground they are usually restless and run swiftly on the approach of danger. 

 Except in the mating season the bird is more often found in flocks, the bunches 

 usually having a much more compact formation in flight than when feeding. 



The eggs are large for the size of the bird, pointed, and usually four in number. 

 In the nest they lie with their points together in the center. They are deposited 

 in April, May, and June. The nest is a very sUght affair, not much more than a 

 shallow hollow, often scratched among the cotton rows, or in pebbly ground in the 

 neighborhood of millponds. Its plaintive cry of kil-dee, kil-dee, which may be 

 heard in all parts of the State, is a well-known sound to every North CaroHna farm 

 boy. 



Genus .ffigialitis (Boie) 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Black bands broad. Toes distinctly webbed at base. Semipalmated Plover. 

 1. Black bands narrow and pale, that on breast interrupted. No web between inner and middle 

 toe. Piping Plover. 



