BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



351 



to the agriculturalist, they must be regarded as a beneficial species. The 

 dozens of stomachs of killdeers which I have examined contained smooth 

 caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and a few water insects. On account 

 of its beneficial and interesting habits, as well as its small size of body, and 

 the inferior quality of its flesh, this bird should be removed from the list 

 of game birds and left to enliven the landscape with its sprightly voice and 

 manners, and to assist the farmer in the destruction of noxious insects. 



Killdeer's nest and eggs 



riiotu l.\ .him.- 11, Miller 



The eggs of the Killdeer are laid in a slight depression sparsely lined 

 with bits of straw and pebbles, usually in a pastttre, cornfield or falloAV. 

 The old bird leaves the nest w^hile danger is yet afar off, provided the danger 

 is of human kind, but when cattle or horses come near the nest she makes 

 a great disturbance as if to drive or lead them aw^ay. A }'oung friend of 

 mine once found a Killdeer's nest while riding across a common, the old 

 bird fluttering and screaming about his horse's feet so flercely that he dis- 



