

150 



PRiECOCIAL GUALLATORES — LIMICOLiE. 





ern States they are resident throughout tlic year, and most numerous in the winter. 

 They are also found at this season in Mexieo, Central America, and the West Indies. 

 Mr. Salvin observed a Hock of these Plovers frecjuenting the open land near Duenas 

 during the winter, and oecasionally feeding in the cochineal plantations between the 

 rows of nopal. He also found it common in other parts of (Juatemala, both in all 

 the highland swa:aps and in similar localities in the hot district with little eleva- 

 tion, everywhere jireferring interior fresh-water marshes to the tide-washed sand- 

 banks of the shore. Mr. Leyland also nu't witli individuals near Omoa, and Mr. G. 

 C. Taylor obtained several specimens on Tigre Island, and afterward on the open 

 part of the plains of C'omayagua. Specimens wer»' taken in St. Thomas by Mr. 

 Riise, and Dr. Bryant speaks of it as very common in tlie liahamas during winter. 



Dr. J. G. Cooper mentions the Kildeer as a constant resident in California wher- 

 ever water is permanent. It was especially abundant at Los Angeles, December, 

 18G(). Except in its more northern places of abode, it is only partially migratory. 



Dr. Cooper also states that this IMover winters in all j)arts of California south of 

 San Francisco. It migrates during April and May northwards, but a jwrtion remain 

 in summer in all the western i)art of that State. The}' prefer gravelly shores of 

 brooks and rivers, but sometimes visit inundated meadows, or even dry and barren 

 plains, where they feed on insects, and i)r()l)ably also on seeds. 



They are very noisy, and their note — wliicli to the Si)anish ear sounds like tildeo, 

 and not kildeer — is uttered in a comiilaining tone wJienever anyone api)roaches 

 them. Though by no means timid, they always seem very much distressed by the 

 presence of man, and act as if they had nests at all seasons; and, whether they 

 are actually nesting or not, run before their pursuer, counterfeiting lameness, and 

 apparently trying to excite pity by their melancholy notes. In California they are 

 not generally regarded as good food, being of a strong and musky flavor ; but in the 

 autumn, when fat, they are not unfrequently eaten. 



Near Fort Hays, in Western Kansas. Ttlr. J. A. Allen found this species by far the 

 most numerous of the Gnilln: He afterward ascertained it to be ecpiallj' abundant 

 in the northeastern portion of the valley of Great Salt Lake. Mr. Kidgway found 

 it more or less common in the prairies of the southern part of Illinois, and in his 

 Western explorations it was by far the most generally distributed, as well as the most 

 abundant bird of the order in all the fertile portions of the West, and resident in all 

 sections where the streams are not frozen for any length of time during winter. 



On Long Island the Kildeer is more numerous than in New England. There, 

 according to (riraud, in summer it prefers the oi)en dry ground ; but on the approach 

 of winter it descends to the sea-shore. It is more numerous in the northern por- 

 tions of that island, which from their higher situation are better adapted than the 

 southern for its residence in the summer. In his pedestrian excursion around that 

 entire island, Giraud met with this I'lover occasionally, but found it most alnnidant 

 in a tract of waste ground near (Jreen Point. The l)irds were very tame, and had 

 evidently enjoyed undisinited possession of the place for some time. They were 

 collecting worms and various kinds of insects ; and he watched their employment 

 without interrupting it. 



The Kildeer feeds on worms and various kinds of insects on the uplands, and i.lso 

 frequents shallow jiools and brooks in search of such small Crustacea as are found in 

 the water. In the fall it is said to follow the ploughman, and pick up the larv» 

 and other forms of insect life that are turned over in the furrows. 



Like most of its race, this Plover passes much of its time on the ground, over 

 which it moves with great rapidity. It can run with such swiftness that — accord- 



