153 
postulated, but certainly numbers of individuals take a far more commonplace route, 
and in the autumn are seen in the interior. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Golden Plover is divided into two subspecies — an 
eastern one, Pluvialis dominicus dominicus } covering most of the continent and migrating 
to the pampas of Brazil and the Argentine; and the Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis 
dominicus fulvus, confined to the west coast, breeding in northwestern Alaska and adjoin- 
ing Asia and migrating to China, Oceania, and New Zealand. It is slightly smaller and, 
especially in autumn, is more heavily and generally washed with yellow and buff. 
The American Golden Plover is very closely related to the European 
Golden Plover, a slightly smaller bird with lining of wings white. Within 
the memory of living sportsmen large flocks were regularly seen in the east, 
but now only occasional birds are met with. It is doubtful if it was ever 
numerous in the west, either in the interior or on the west coast. It is one 
of the few Shore Birds upon which an open season is permitted. 
273. Killdeer Plover, killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus. L, 10-50. Plate XXI A. 
A medium-sized Shore Bird commonly frequenting the uplands. Pure white below, with 
two black breast-bands and a large amount of rusty yellow on rump and tail. 
Distinctions. The double black belt across the breast and the large amount of rusty 
yellow on tail and rump are distinctive. It is the largest of the belted Plover. 
Field Marks. Size, white underparts, and double black breast-belt, large amount of 
rufous on rump and tail, and loud strident voice represented as “Kildee, Kildee ” often 
repeated. 
Distribution. North and South America. Breeding commonly in Canada across the 
continent except on the east coast; in the west, north to Mackenzie and Yukon valleys. 
A common bird over most of Canada. It nests in pastures and 
cultivated fields, as a rule at some distance from water. When its young 
are hatched it leads them to the nearest water, often the merest surface 
pool, where they dabble about the muddy edge until grown. 
The species is well named vociferus, as it is amongst the noisiest of 
the noisy. One cannot approach its chosen haunts without it springing an 
immediate alarm that puts all within hearing at nervous attention. 
i( Kildee Kildee ”, it cries stridently, and makes off in frantic alarm, only 
to return and tell it again and again to the intruder and the whole com- 
munity. It alights and runs about the ob j ec t of its alarm with an aggravatingly 
repeated ‘ * Cry ba-by-cry, cry ba-by , ba-by 1 ’ rising to a shriek of excitement as 
it plays “broken wing" and makes patently misleading attempts to 
hide behind quite inadequate grass clumps. There may or may not 
be young or nests nearby. It may or may not have a proprietary 
interest in the ground invaded, but it acts the same in either case and is not 
content when at last it decoys or drives away its adopted enemy, but 
follows for long distances to prolong the agony and spoil his game whatever 
it may be. To the naturalist bent on studying some of the shyer denizens 
of the sloughs the Killdeer is an aggravation indeed, and at times consider- 
able restraint is required to refrain from blowing the interfering busybody 
to bits and silencing its infernal and plaguing racket. However, at other 
times, its characteristic notes and the pretty way in which it alternately 
runs on twinkling little feet and pauses to look around like a Robin 
hunting angle worms on the lawn are very attractive. It is interesting, 
also, to see the different ways in which it deals with various enemies. When 
real danger threatens, such as a horse straying too close and threatening to 
plant its great hoof upon the nest, its behaviour is not the same as when a 
dog ranges near. Into the face of the former it flies with a sudden start 
and loud calls in a manner that makes the great creature jump backward 
or to one side in startled fright, which accomplished, the bird returns to 
