PLOVERS 265 



Golden Plovers frequent marshes, sandy hills, old fields, sand-flats 

 exposed by the falling tide, plowed fields, and burned tracts which are 

 free of trees and bushes. When on the ground they run rapidly and 

 gracefully, and after alighting soon scatter. All their movements are 

 quick, and after running a few yards they suddenly stop, hold their 

 heads erect, and look about them. In feeding they seem to strike at 

 an object with a motion that reminds one of a Loon or Grebe begin- 

 ning to dive. When a flock is approaching decoys, every bird seems to be 

 whistling, uttering a note like coodle, coodle, coodle. Unlike the Black- 

 bellied Plover, the young birds are wary and more difficult to decoy 

 than the old ones. When driven from a favorite resting- or feeding- 

 ground they generally return in a short time. (MACKAY, G. H!, Auk, 

 1891, 17-24; 1892, 199; 1893, 79-82; 1894, 75; 1895, 78; 1896, 80; 

 1897, 212; 1899, 180.) 



The EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (871. Charadrius apricarius) occurs in 

 eastern Greenland. It resembles our species, but has the under wing- 

 coverts white instead of gray. 



273. Oxyechus vociferus vociferus (Linn.). KILLDEER. Ads. Fore- 

 head, a spot behind the eye, throat, and a ring around neck, a band on 

 breast, lower breast, and belly white ; front of crown, 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 grayish brown, 

 outer ones becoming rufous and white, all tipped with black and white. 

 L., 10-50; W., 6-50; Tar., 1'35; B., '75. 



Range. N. and S. A. Breeds from cen. B. C., s. Mackenzie, pen. 

 Keewatin, and cen. Que. s. to the Gulf coast and cen. Mex.; winters from 

 Calif., Ariz., Tex., Ind., N. J., and Bermuda s. to Venezuela and Peru; 

 casual in N. F., Paraguay, and Chile; accidental in Great Britain. 



Washington, P. R., most abundant in migrations. Long Island, not 

 common, T. V., recorded in every month but Jan. (Dutcher). Ossining, 

 rare T. V., in fall, Sept. 28-Oct. 25, Cambridge, rare T. V., very rare S. R. 

 N. Ohio, common S. R., Feb. 27-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, local S. R., Mch. 

 3-Oct. 29. SE. Minn., common S. R., Mch. 11-pct. 10. 



Nest, often far from water, a slight depression in the ground, usually 

 scantily lined with bits of grass, etc., or stones. Eggs, 4, buff y white, "spotted 

 and scrawled with chocolate chiefly at the larger end, 1'50 x 1*10. Date, 

 Chevy Chase, Md., Apl. 6; Pewaukee, Wise., May 15. 



In localities where this bird is common it is difficult to get beyond 

 the reach of its notes. Lakesides, meadows, pastures, and cultivated 

 fields all attract it, but it is more numerous in the vicinity of water. 

 It is a noisy, restless bird, running rapidly when on the ground, and 

 when on the wing flying swiftly and sometimes pursuing a most irreg- 

 ular course. As a rule it is found in flocks, which scatter when feeding 

 but unite when taking wing. At the first sign of danger it utters its 

 half -plaintive, half -petulant kill-dee, kill-dee, and when thoroughly 

 alarmed its outcry increases until, beside itself with fear, it reaches . 

 the limit of its vocal powers. Although by no means shy, the Killdeer- 

 never seems to gain confidence in man, and at his approach always 

 gives voice to its fear. Even at night I have heard it cry out at some 

 real or fancied danger. 



1889. CHADBOURNE, A. P., Auk, VI, 255-263 (great flight of). 



