80' BIRDS OF OHIO. 



sometimes on the shore of Lake Erie. Several reports to the 

 contrary notwithstanding, it does not nest in the state. Late 

 spring and early autumn records of many of this group of 

 birds do not necessarily indicate that they breed in the re- 

 gion where such records have been made. The "Shore 

 Birds" linger late and return early. 



The Golden Plover, as well as several other species, mi- 

 grates in flocks which fly as one bird. When one individ- 

 ual has been shot from a flock the rest return for the lost 

 one, and may be in danger of a similar fate at the hands of 

 a thoughtless hunter. They should be looked for about the 

 middle of April, and again in late August or early Septem- 

 ber. 



110. (273.) OxYECHUs vociFERUs (Linn.). 197. 

 Killdeer. 



Synonyms: Charadrius vociferus. ^gialitis vocifera 



Killdeer Plover, Ring Plover. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 165. 



Of all members of this group of birds the Killdeer is 

 probably the best known, because he talks about himself so 

 much ! He is among the first birds to come from the south 

 in early March, not seldom reaching the lake shore with the 

 Robin and Bluebird, but more often about a week behind 

 them. One would expect a bird of his tastes to fare poorly 

 while snow still covers the ground for days at a time, but 

 he seems to find enough to keep him warm and active. At 

 first he stays close to some low, wet place, gleaning from the 

 surface of the mud, or searches out the fields which have 

 been well kept and therefore furnish him with a clear sur- 

 face to feed upon. It seems likely that the Killdeer some- 

 times eats soft seeds when insects, worms, and other soft 

 animals are difficult to find, but I have no direct evidence 

 of it. At any rate, he must be classed with the distinctly 

 beneficial birds because of the insect larvae which he eats. 



The first decidedly spring thaw, which may occur late in 

 February or not till the second week in March, brings this 

 bird to Lorain county. He stays all winter in the southern 



