PLOVER. 151 



regularly to the sand bars of the nearest streams for the purpose 

 of sanding, washing, and quenching their thirst. 



From the regularity of the visits of these birds in former years, 

 to the sand bars of the upper Illinois and Kankakee, they have 

 been called by the resident shooters Kankakee Bar Plover, in that 

 locality. And from the great numbers which sweep over the 

 prairies in spring and fall they have for years passed under the 

 common name of Prairie Pigeons among the grangers and those 

 not up in ornithology. 



As the flock comes in sight from the direction of the north or 

 south prairies, a shrill whistle is usually the first welcome, then the 

 chorus of a hundred voices chimes in as though rejoicing at the 

 sight of the liquid element. Such is their apparent ecstasy as they 

 wheel around over their favorite bar, and such their utter disregard 

 of the heavy booming of guns that hundreds are dropped tipon the 

 water fluttering in every direction, while the column wheels into 

 line again right over the spot where its dead and wounded com- 

 panions lie, only to be thinned again and again, until finally driven 

 away. Ordinary precautions seem forgotten or abandoned by 

 these birds when approaching a favorite watering place, and when 

 met with under such circumstances it is conclusive evidence 

 that they have not been long from the breeding grounds, and 

 that most of them are young and inexperienced. The Chicago 

 markets, in spring and fall, teem with this game bird, and while 

 their flights last they furnish a cheap article of diet. 



jEgzalitzs vociferus. — Boo. Killdeer Plover. 



The Killdeer, so called from its peculiar note, is an abundant 

 migrating species of North America, found on the plains in great 

 numbers, breeds anywhere; color, rump tawny, tail white with 

 orange brown through part of its length with from one to three 

 transverse black bars, secondaries white, primaries with a white 

 space, forehead white, black bar across the crown, two broad 

 black bands on neck and breast, bill black, feet greyish blue. 

 These birds are found flying swiftly along the borders of streams in 

 pairs and small wisps or bunches in the East, but are seen in great 

 numbers on the plains of the west feeding around the borders of 

 aloughs and ponds associated with others of the genus. Thev 



