I KILDEER PLOVER. 507 
KILDEER PLOVER. — CHARADRIUS VOCIFERUS.— Fic. 238. 
Arct. Zool. No. 400. — Catesby, i. 71. — Le Kildir, Buff. viii. 96. — Peale’s 
Museum, No. 4174. 
CHARADRIUS VOCIFERUS, — Linn xvs.* 
Charadrius vociferus, Bonap. Synop. North. Zool. ii. p. 368. 
Tus restless and noisy bird is known to almost every inhabitant 
of the United States, being a common and pretty constant resident. 
During the severity of winter when snow covers the ground, it re- 
treats to the sea-shore, where 1t is found at all seasons; but no sooner 
have the rivers broke up, than its shrill note is again heard, either 
roaming about high in air, tracing the shore of the river, or running 
amidst the watery flats and meadows. As spring advances, it resorts 
to the newly-ploughed fields, or level plains bare of grass, interspersed 
with shallow pools; or, in the vicinity of the sea, dry, bare, sandy 
fields. In some such situation it generally chooses to breed, about the 
beginning of May. The nest is usually slight, a mere hollow, with 
such materials drawn in around it as happen to be near, such as bits 
of sticks, straw, pebbles, or earth. In one instance, I found the nest 
of this bird paved with fragments of clam and oyster shells, and very 
neatly surrounded with a mound, or border of the same, placed in a 
very close and curious manner. In some cases there is no vestige 
whatever of a nest. The eggs are usually four, of a bright rich 
cream or yellowish clay color, thickly marked with blotches of black. 
They are large for the size of the bird, measuring more than an inch 
and a half in length, and a full inch in width, tapering to a narrow 
point at the great end. 
Nothing can exceed the alarm and anxiety of these birds, during 
the breeding season. Their cries of kildeer, kildeer, as they winnow 
the air overhead, dive, and course around you, or run along the ground 
counterfeiting lameness, are shrill and incessant. The moment they 
see a person approach, they fly or run to attack him with their harass- 
ing clamor, continuing it over so wide an extent of ground, that they 
puzzle the pursuer as to the particular spot where the nest or young 
are concealed ; very much resembling, in this respect, the Lapwing of 
Europe. During the evening, and long after dusk, particularly in moon- 
light, their cries are frequently heard with equal violence, both in the 
spring and fall. From this circumstance, and their flying about both 
after dusk and before dawn, it appears probable that they see better at 
such times than most of their tribe. They are known to feed much on 
worms, and many of these rise to the surface during the night. The 
prowling of Owls may also alarm their fears for their young at those 
hours; but, whatever may be the cause, the facts are so. 
* 
* An abundant and well-known species, and pecnliar to both continents of Amer- 
ica, with some of the West Indian islands. According to the Northern Zoology, 
it arrives on the plains of the Saskatchewan about the 20th of April, and. at that 
season, frequents the gardens and cultivated fields of the trading pos! with the ut- 
most familiarity. — Ep. 
