207 



THE KILDEER PLOVER. 



"^"Charadrius vociferus, Linn. 



PLATE CCCXVII.— Male and Female. 



Reader, suppose yourself wandering over some extensive prairie, far 

 beyond the western shores of the Mississippi. While your wearied limbs 

 and drooping spirits remind you of the necessity of repose and food, you 

 see the moon's silvery rays glitter on the dews that have already clothed the 

 tall grass around you. Your footsteps, be they ever so light, strike the ear 

 of the watchful Kildeer, who, with a velocity scarcely surpassed by that of 

 any other bird, comes up, and is now passing and repassing swiftly around 

 you. His clear notes indicate his alarm, and seem to demand why you are 

 there. To see him is now impossible, for a cloud has shrouded the moon; 

 but on your left and right, before and behind, his continued vociferations 

 intimate how glad he would be to see you depart from his beloved hunting- 

 grounds. Nay, be not surprised if he should follow you until his eyes, 

 meeting the glaring light of a woodsman traveller, he will wheel off and bid 

 you adieu. 



The Kildeer's large eyes seem to be given it to enable it to feed by night 

 as well as by day. At any time after the breeding season, this species moves 

 in loose flocks, seldom exceeding ten or fifteen individuals, which disperse 

 over the space of an acre or two of ground. Yet some one of them always 

 acts as a sentinel, for standing erect to the full stretch of its legs, it carefully 

 watches all the moving objects around, as far as its eye can reach. Cows, 

 horses, or sheep are none of its enemies, and among them it will seek for 

 food; but let a man, or a dog, or any other animal bent on destruction, shew 

 himself, and that instant the bird runs swiftly with a querulous note, and 

 should any of these his enemies evince the least disposition to molest it, its 

 beautiful wings and tail are spread, and away it goes, cheerily calling to its 

 companions to follow. 



The Kildeer is by most people called a "noisy bird and restless." Now 

 to me it is any thing but this, unless indeed when it is disturbed by the 

 approach or appearance of its enemies, more particularly man, of whom 

 indeed few wild birds are fond. Watch them from under some cover that 

 completely conceals you, and you will see them peaceably and silently follow 



