Birds of Massachusetts. — 205 
Wirsow's Prover, Charadrius Wilsonius, a spe- 
cies resembling the preceding, and named in honor 
of the great ornithologist, is a constant resident in 
the southern states, but was supposed never to come 
farther to the east than Long Island. Audubon 
thought it strange that its‘range should be so lim-' 
ited, compared with that of the piping plover. I 
am, however, informed by Dr. Brewer, that Wilson's 
plover was abundant at Nahant, in August of the 
last year. It was probably some irregular movement, 
which would not be repeated every year, since it is 
hardly to be supposed that the bird should be often 
in our limits, and yet buic fi the eye of so md 
accurate observers. 
The Kitprer Proven, Charadrius vociferus, is a 
common bird, which spends the winter at the south, 
but returns early in the spring, leaving the éoast : and 
spreading over the inland country, where it is found 
in open fields, and on the banks of streams, and 
known by the name of kill-dee. It seems to have 
great sagacity in suspecting danger. In the pre- 
sence of horses, cows and sheep, it is perfectly indif- 
ferent; but if a man or dog appears, it betrays ex- 
treme uneasiness and distrust. When they move in 
small flocks, they appoint one as sentinel, who stands 
on tiptoe, watching all the objects around ; when 
any thing appears, in the least suspicious, it sounds 
the alarm, and the place is at once deserted. 
The kildeer plover makes its nest on the ground 
of a field, or the sand of the downs, sometimes lin- 
ing it with grass, at others laying the eggs on 
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