94 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
thickly marked with blotches of black. They are large for the size of the 
bird, measuring more than an inch and a half in length, anda full inch in 
width, tapering to a narrow point at the great end. 
“Nothing can exceed the alarm and anxiety of these birds during the 
breeding season. Their cries of ki//-deer, kill-deer, as they winnow the 
air overhead, dive and course around you, or run along the ground counter- 
feiting lameness, are shrill and incessant. The moment they see a person 
approach, they fly or run to attack him with their harassing clamor, contin- 
uing it over so wide an extent of ground that they puzzle the pursuer as to 
the particular spot where the nest or young are concealed, very much resem- 
bling, in this respect, the lapwing of Europe. During the evening, and 
long after dusk, particularly in moonlight, their cries are frequently heard 
with equal violence, both in the spring and fall. From this circumstance, 
and their flying about both after dusk and before dawn, it appears probable 
that they see better at such times than most of their tribe. They are known 
to feed much on worms, and many of these rise to the surface during the 
night. The prowling of owls may also alarm their fears for their young at 
those hours; but, whatever may be the cause, the facts are so. 
“The Killdeer is more abundant in the Southern States in winter than in 
summer. Among the rice-fields, and even around the planters’ yards, in 
South Carolina, I observed them very numerous in the months of February 
and March. There the negro boys frequently practise 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. Theyusually stand erect on their legs, and run or walk with 
the body in a stiff, horizontal position: they run with great swiftness, and 
are also strong and vigorous in the wings. Their flesh is eaten by 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 gray- 
elly channel of brooks and shallow streams, where they can wade about in 
search of aquatic insects: at the close of summer, they generally descend 
to the sea-shore in small flocks, seldom more than ten or twelve being seen 
together. They are then more serene and silent, as well as difficult to be 
approached.” 
Famity Scotopactp®. THE SNIPEs. 
This large and interesting family is generally distributed over both conti- 
nents; it contains some of the most valuable game birds, such as the Red- 
breasted Snipe, the English or Wilson’s Snipe, the Woodcocks, the Curlews, 
ee 
