10 CHARADRIUS VOCIFERUS. 



so wide an extent of ground, that they puz/le the 

 pursuer as to the particular spot where tin- nest or young 

 are concealed ; very much resembling, in this n-^pect, 

 the lapn -ing of Europe. During the evening, and long 

 after dusk, particularly iu moonlight, their cries .in- 

 frequently heard with equal violence, both in the spring 

 and fall. From this circumstance, and their i 

 ahout both after dusk and before dawn, it appears 

 probable that they see better at such times than mo-t of 

 their tribe. They are known to feed much on \\ < 

 and many of these rise to the surface during the niirht. 

 The prowling of owls, may also alarm their fear> for 

 their young at those hours : but, whatever may be the 

 cause, the facts are so. 



The kildeer is more abundant in the Southern States 

 in winter than in summer. Among the rice lields, and 

 even around the planter's yards, in South Carolina, I 

 observed them very numerous in the months of February 

 and March. There the negro boys frequently pi '-.< 

 the barbarous mode of catching them with a line, at 

 the extremity of which is a crooked pin with a worm 

 on it. Their flight is something like that of the tern, 

 but more vigorous; and they sometimes rise to a great 

 height in the air. They are fond of wading in pools 

 of water; and frequently bathe themselves during the 

 summer. They usually stand erect on their lei>, and 

 run or walk with the body in a stiff horizontal position ; 

 they run with great swiftness, and are also strung and 

 vigorous in the wings. Their tlesh i> eaten l.y some, 

 but is not in general esteem; though others say, that 

 in the fall, when they become very fat, it is excellent. 



During the extreme droughts of summer, these birds 

 resort to the gravelly channel of brooks and shallow 

 streams, where tliey can wade about in search of aquatic 

 insects : at the close of summer, they generally descend 

 to the sea shore, in small Mocks, seldom more than ten 

 or twelve being seen together. They are then more 

 serene and silent, as well as ditficult to be approached. 



The kildeer is ten inches lon^, and twenty inches in 

 ?xteut ; the bill is black ; frontlet, chin, and ring round 



