80 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
sometimes on the shore of Lake Erie. Several reports to the 
contrary notwithstanding, it does not nest in the state. Late 
spring and early autumn records of many of this group of 
birds do not necessarily indicate that they breed in the re- 
gion where such records have been made. The “Shore 
Birds” linger late and return early. 
The Golden Plover, as well as several other species, mi- 
grates in flocks which fly as one bird. When one individ- 
ual has been shot from a flock the rest return for the lost 
one, and may be in danger of a similar fate at the hands of 
a thoughtless hunter. They should be looked for about the 
middle of April, and again in late August or early Septem- 
ber. 
110. (273.) OxyEcHus vociFerus (Linn.). 19%. 
Killdeer. 
Synonyms: Charadrius vociferus. Adgialitis vocifera. 
Killdeer Plover, Ring Plover. 
Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 165. 
Of all members of this group of birds the Killdeer is 
probably the best known, because he talks about himself so 
much! He is among the first birds to come from the south 
in early March, not seldom reaching the lake shore with the 
Robin and Bluebird, but more often about a week behind 
them. One would expect a bird of his tastes to fare poorly 
while snow still covers the ground for days at a time, but 
he seems to find enough to keep him warm and active. At 
first he stays close to some low, wet place, gleaning from the 
surface of the mud, or searches out the fields which have 
been well kept and therefore furnish him with a clear sur- 
face to feed upon. It seems likely that the Killdeer some- 
times eats soft seeds when insects, worms, and other soft 
animals are difficult to find, but I have no direct evidence 
of it. At any rate, he must be classed with the distinctly 
beneficial birds because of the insect larvee which he eats. 
The first decidedly spring thaw, which may occur late in 
February or not till the second week in March, brings this 
bird to Lorain county. He stays all winter in the southern 
