THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
53 
of other shore birds, the great majority passing north about 
the first of June and returning late in August. If the weather 
is fine some remain until late into October. Numbers 
formerly remained, even in southern Wisconsin, the summer 
through, but we have no evidence of nesting ; although Mr. 
Nelson seemed strongly to suspect that it did breed about 
Waukegan, Illinois, in 1876. That a few do nest not very 
far north of us is shown by the fact that young with the 
primaries still showing the remains of the "blood quills" used 
to be taken on Lake Koshkonong in August (Aug. 10, "1 
specimens, Aug. 14 and 16, 1872, 1873). Older birds not in 
full breeding plumage also formerly occurred on Lake Kosh- 
konong during June, July and August. During the past ten 
years the species has almost entirely disappeared. Mr. J. N. 
Clark considers it a very rare migrant in Dunn County, and 
has not seen a specimen since May 27, 1898. 
Charadrius dominions Mull. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 
Formerly very abundant, both in spring and fall, on the 
Wisconsin prairies, if there were heavy rains arriving about 
April 15 and remaining until the first week in May or even 
later (May 10, 12, 13, 1867, Rock County). Returns from the 
north from the first to the middle of September, but is much 
more common in October. Formerly an occasional specimen 
was taken in summer, but it is very rare at this time as com- 
pared with the last. There are several Koshkonong records 
for June and July, and a beautiful male in full breeding 
plumage was taken on Rock Prairie, Rock County, in June, 
1892. Spring market shooting from Illinois southward and 
westward has so reduced its numbers that the golden plover 
is now almost rare in Wisconsin. A few are still found on 
the larger prairies in April and about the lakes in September 
and October. Late arrivals in spring are in almost perfect 
plumage. The numbers of these birds that frequented our 
prairies from 1840 to 1865 seem almost incredible to the 
younger generation. At that time the birds would scarcely 
get out of the way of the teams when the farmers were plowing, 
and followed, like chickens, in the furrow. 
^Egialitis vocifera (Linn.). KILLDEER. 
A common summer resident in suitable localities over the 
entire state. An early arrival in the spring often occurring 
as early as March 15, and there are even February records 
