Plate XLV. 



FIG. 2. OXYECHUS VOCIFERUS-Killdeer. 



The Ivilldeer, or, as it is more commonly called, Killclee, is the first of all our shore-birds to arrive 

 from the South. Often as early as the last of February a few stragglers may be seen or heard flying 

 over head. Like Ducks and Snipe they journey principally at night. They remain in the fall until cold 

 weather comes. Usually they have all left by the last of November. Nesting generally begins in April 

 for the first brood, and in June for the second. May 14th, 1879, I saw young Killdeers nearly grown ; 

 and May 8th, L882, I saw young ones almost as large. 



LOCALITY: 



The nest is always made in the neighborhood of water, either a lake, river, creek, canal, or pond. 

 Sometimes it is placed in grass or beside an old log in a pasture or sparsely timbered woods. Some- 

 times it is on the muddy, sandy, or pebbly bank of a stream, unprotected by even the slightest vegeta- 

 tion, but, ordinarily, it is in a newly ploughed field adjoining some small pond or stream. 



POSITION : 



The nest is always upon the ground, either in a natural depression or in a slight concavity made by 

 the birds. Considerable skill is shown in selecting a low spot, and, at the same time, avoiding places 

 where water from rains would either overflow or collect. 



MATERIALS : 



Usually the female Killdeer collects a few short weed-stems or bits of slender twigs of uniform size, 

 and lines the bottom of the selected cavity. Sometimes, when the nest is in grass, blades of dead grass 

 are similarly used. Sometimes, when the nest is on a gravelly shore or any other uirprotected spot, no 

 materials are carried, the eggs being deposited on the bare ground or upon whatever happens to cover 

 the site. 



EGGS: 



Four eggs are the usual complement, but in the second set sometimes but three are laid. The 

 ground-color is uniformly a smoky-buff. The marks consist of blotches, spots, and speckles of dark brown, 

 at times almost black. They are distributed over the entire shell, but are larger and more numerous 

 on the basal half. Usually each egg contains several blotches, but occasionally specimens are marked 

 entirely with speckles. In long-diameter they vary from 1.40 to 1.48, and in short-diameter, from .98 to 

 1.07. A common size is 1.42 x 1.00. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS 

 See Table. 



151 



