THE BIOLOGICAL REVIEW. 71 



trod upon, and then starting up, to alight again a few yards 

 ahead. It is- a most abundant species, breeding plentifully. 



They seem to prefer a bush country, left free from underbrush 

 after the fire has run through. Over this kind of ground the air 

 would seem to be full of these birds of an evening, and their 

 loud booming noise is heard on every hand. 



Passing through these woods, I have often started the birds 

 off their eggs, which are laid on the bare ground without any 

 attempt of a nest, not even a hollow scraped for them to lay in ;. 

 the eggs were always two in number and oval in form. The 

 birds did not trouble themselves much as to what became of 

 their property, making no noise and getting out of the way as 

 quickly as possible. 



/Egialitis vocifera (Killdeer). — This bird is very numerous 

 from early spring until well on in the autumn, I have hunted 

 carefully over the ground where the birds were plentiful but did 

 not succeed in finding a nest ; this must be owing to the female 

 not remaining on her eggs, but flying to meet one a long way 

 off. They are very noisy, and all the birds within hearing will 

 gather and add their protest to what they are pleased to consider 

 intrusion on their haunts. 



A set of five eggs was brought to me near the end of June, 

 they were quite fresh, and of a dull, creamy- white color, spotted 

 heavily with brown ; in shape much pyriform and appear large 

 for the size of the bird.' I did not examine the nest from which 

 they were taken, so cannot give any description of situation or 

 material. 



These birds may almost be considered noctural in their habits, 

 they are certainly noisiest in the dusk of the evening, and if the 

 night is not altogether dark, they may be heard and seen at a 

 pretty late hour. They seem to prefer the society of man, being 

 most abundant about the town, and a very few scattered pairs 

 being seen far out on the prairie. 



Edward Deacon. 



Toronto, Out. 



