182 
CHARADRIIFORMES 
able restraint is required to refrain from blowing the interfering busybody 
to bits and silencing its 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 
her brooding without more ado. With a dog, however, such tactics are 
useless, and the plover flies shrieking away from the nest on foot, wings 
dragging brokenly, legs trailing helplessly, and all in a flutter of terrified 
helplessness. The dog dashes at the apparently disabled bird which only 
just escapes the snap of the excited jaws. Another dash is also seemingly 
miraculously evaded and the bird manages to flutter a few rods away, to 
repeat the manoeuvre again and again, always leading away from the nest 
and each time nearly but not quite caught. When the enemy is thus by 
false hopes decoyed far from the nest the Killdeer gets suddenly well and 
strong and leaves her would-be devourer to dine elsewhere whilst she returns 
to her duties. It is an old, old game, yet ever new, not altogether peculiar 
to the Killdeer, and so nearly always successful that the species persists and 
thrives in spite of dog, fox, coyote, or cat. 
272. American Golden Plover, le pluvier dore d’am^rique. Pluvialis do- 
minica. L, 10-50. In general coloration and appearance much like the Black-bellied 
Plover (See Plate XXII A), but slightly smaller. 
Figure 259 
Specific details oi American Golden Plover; scale, i. 
a, dark rump; b, dark crown; 
c, no hind toe; d, grey axillars. 
Distinctions. Likely to be confused only with the Black-bellied Plover whose plumage 
sequence it follows closely, with the following differences. In spring, decidedly more black 
than white above and the light speckles strongly golden yellow. Crown almost solid 
black instead of nearly pure white. Below, the black includes the undertail-coverts. 
The adults in winter are very similar to the juvenile which is generally quite yellow 
on back, the colour suffusing over face and breast. The markings above are considerably 
