OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 139 



spring. It differs very considerably, however, from the Einged Plover in the 

 choice of a haunt, shunning the sea coasts almost entirely, and, like the 

 Dotterel, living in inland districts, on the banks of lakes, pools, and rivers, and in 

 swamps. It may be sometimes met with near brackish back-waters and lagoons; 

 but the open sandy coasts appear to have no attraction. The flight of this species 

 is rapid, performed by regular and quick beats of the wings ; but sometimes the 

 bird holds its pinions arched and stiff and skims for some distance. It also 

 frequently keeps them elevated for a second or so after it has alighted, and some- 

 times unfolds them when in the act of running. It is said to frequent fallows 

 and grass lands in search of food, and not unfrequently to wade into the water 

 for a little distance when running quickly round the margin with bobbing head 

 and flicking tail. The food of the Killdeer Plover consists of insects, worms, and 

 crustaceans, and the bird may sometimes be noticed following the plough and 

 searching the newly-turned earth for these creatures. Its note is a loud, clear, 

 whistling tut-tilt-tut, which probably becomes a trill during the pairing season, 

 and is drawn out into too-it, something like that of our Einged Plover, when the 

 bird is alarmed. This latter has been likened to the syllables hill-dee (the dee 

 often repeated singly several times in succession), whence the English name of 

 the bird has been derived by American sportsmen, who are apt to dislike the 

 Killdeer because its shrill note often disturbs more important game. It is said to 

 be a very noisy bird, especially if much disturbed or threatened by danger. In 

 autumn the Killdeer Plover becomes more gregarious, migrates in companies, it 

 is said generally at night and often at a great altitude, and spends the winter in 

 flocks of varying size, just as our own Einged Plovers do. 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Killdeer Plover varies a good 

 deal, according to the latitude of the nesting grounds. In southern haunts the 

 beginning of April appears to be the time ; in the central portion of its distribu- 

 tion not until May ; whilst at the northern limits of its summer range breeding 

 does not commence until June. The nest is merely a hollow in the ground, lined 

 with a few bits of dry grass or other herbage, but in many cases even this slight 

 provision is omitted. The eggs are four in number, pale buff in ground-colour, 

 blotched and spotted with blackish-brown, and underlying markings of brownish- 

 grey. They measure on an average 1"6 inch in length by I'l inch in breadth. 

 Both parents assist in hatching the eggs, and become demonstrative when 

 the young are hatched, feigning lameness, and trying to lure the intruder away by 

 cunning devices. One brood only appears to be reared in the year. 



Diagnostic characters — Oxyechus, with the lower back, rump, and 

 upper tail coverts chestnut-buff. Length, 9 to 10 inches. 



