KILDEER. 457 



back ; foreliead, and a broad line over the eye to the nape white ; tail feathers grayish- 

 brown, with imperfect white or ashy bars ; axillara gray or ashy. At other times, the 

 nnder parts nearly as in the last species. Length, 10-11 ; wing, 7 or less ; tail, under 

 3 ; bill, 1 or less. 



Habitat, Var. fulvus, Asia and Pacific regions generally. Prybilov Islands. Var. 

 virginicrue, all of North America. Greenland. Accidental in Europe. 



Migrant ; usually abundant in spring, common in the fall. The Golden 

 Plover is the most abundant of the strictly migrant species of the family. 

 In April it usually appears in flocks of from thirty to one hundred birds, 

 in high meadows and pastures. Their flight is very swift, and the flocks 

 are very close. All movements, when on the wing, are performed with 

 wonderful rapidity and unanimity. They run quickly in the grass, 

 and, while rather shy, exhibit sometimes considerable curiosity and 

 some degree of confidence. Their voice is a pleasant mellow whistle, fre- 

 quently repeated while on the wing. During the spring migration while 

 with us they are changing from winter to breeding plumage. Generally the 

 colors of winter predominate, but sometimes specimens are taken with 

 the under parts nearly uniform black. In September they return in full 

 winter plumage, and now frequent the gravelly and muddy borders of 

 streams, sometimes in large flocks, and sometimes in pairs or as single 

 birds, solitary or in company with Tattlers and Sandpipers. At this 

 season their habits are less active than in spring. They are the only 

 birds of the family whose size, abundance, and other qualities entitle 

 them to any consideration as a game bird. As such they are generally 

 esteemed. 



The Golden Plover breeds in the Arctic regions. The nest is composed 

 of a few leaves within a natural depression of the ground. The eggs re- 

 semble those of the proceeding species in color, but measure about 1.90 

 by 1.38. 



Genus ^GIALITIS. Boie. 



Front of tarsus with plates arranged vertically of which there are two or three in a 

 transverse series. 



iEaiALiTis vociFEEA (L.) Bonap. 



ZCildeer Plover. 



Charadrius vociferus, Kirtland, Ohio Geolog.Sarv., 1838, 165. 



Aegialitie vodferus, Whbaton, Ohio Agric. Kep. for 1860, 368 ; Reprint, 1861, 10. 



Mgialitis vociferns, Wheaton, Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Kep. for 1874, 572 ; Re- 

 print, 1875, 13. — Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin.,lS77, 14; Revised List, Journ. Cin, 

 Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 182 ; Reprint, 16 ; Summer Birds, iii, 1880, 226. 



Kildeer, Baixou, Field and Forest^ iii, 1878, 13C. 



Charadrius vodferus, Link^us, Syst. Nat., i, 1776, 253. 

 JEgialilis vodferus, Bonap aktk, Comp. List, 1838, 45. 

 Mgialilis vodfera, Coues, Birds N. W., 1874, 452. 



