THE KILDEER PLOVER 83 
The Golden Plover is about ten and one-half 
inches long, and in wing spread about twenty- 
two inches. Weight from five and one-half to 
six ounces. It may be needless to add that the 
bird is a delicate morsel for the table. 
THE KILDEER PLOVER. ‘KILDER.”’’ 
(Oxyechus vociferus.) 
The chief of the small family of ‘‘ring 
plovers;’’ the largest and most beautiful of 
these birds in our territory. He has named 
himself and we have taken him at his word, 
“Kildeer! Kildeer!’’ <A noisy, active, restless 
little bird, and not very common in New Eng- 
land as compared with the numbers found in 
the West. 
They are not so much given to gathering into 
flocks nor are they so partial to the seashore 
as are their smaller brethren. The Kildeer is 
mostly found in the fields and high grounds, 
ploughed lands or marshes rather than the 
sea beaches. In the full plumage a beautiful 
bird; above, brownish gray, with a greenish, 
satiny gloss, and many feathers edged with 
golden brown; rump and upper tail coverts of 
