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CoJ.Bosto* Soc. Nat. History, 
Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. — A specimen from the Massachusetts 
coast was received from the Everett collection. 
Auk 26 , Apr-1* 0» ,p, 
Killdeer ( Oxyechus vociferus ) at Lancaster, Mass. — I have a small 
pond of about three acres where I keep a collection of ducks. This year 
owing to the drought it was very low and the muddy shores afforded good 
feeding ground for any waders that might come along. 
On June 16, I was surprised to hear the note of a Killdeer and going to 
the pond I discovered four. They seemed very tame and were busily 
occupied in feeding. This was in the afternoon. They remained for about 
an hour, then flew off. The next morning they were back again and re- 
mained until about 11 o’clock, then disappeared.. The same afternoon 
they came again and remained until 5 o’clock, when they flew away. This 
continued until June 26, when I shot two, which proved to be adult males 
in worn plumage. The other two came back the next day. On June 30, 
two new ones appeared with the other two, making four in all on the pond 
that day. On July 1, 2, and 3, only three were seen. They remained 
until July 6, when they disappeared and they have not been seen since. 
When they left the pond they always flew in the same direction — to- 
wards the big Clinton reservoir. My theory is that these birds bred there 
last year and as the shores were very low it afforded them excellent feeding 
grounds, but when they returned this year, conditons were altered, the 
reservoir being filled to the brim. This compelled the birds to hunt for a 
different feeding ground and in hunting about theyfound my pond. — 
John E. Thayeb, Lancaster, Mass. iAvJt. xx /X. Oof, /tn>u 
Uncommon Shore-birds seen in Essex County, Massachusetts. — 
Clark’s Pond, Ipswich, July 24, 1912, one full plumaged Killdeer Plover 
0 Oxyechus vociferus). Eagle Hill, Ipswich, July 31, 1912, before any shoot- 
ing was allowed we found five Killdeer Plover. Four were feeding together 
in a marsh hole and one flew over. The birds were so tame we could see 
all their markings. When startled they flew uttering their ‘ Kill-dee ’ note. 
Eagle Hill, Ipswich, August 7, 1912, one Buff -breasted Sandpiper ( Tryn- 
gites subruHcollis,) in the grassy edges of Mr. A. B. Clark’s pond. This 
was a new bird to me but easily identified by the general brownish yellow 
color and the specklings on the wings. 
Nahant Beach, August 10, 1912, one Willet (probably Caloptrophorus 
semipalmatus inornatus) so exhausted after a long flight that, as it crouched 
on some seaweed, I thought the bird was wounded and went up to examine 
it. When I was within fifteen feet it stood up and stretched its wings over 
its back showing the beautiful black and white markings, the black axillars 
and the greenish legs. After a few moments the Willet took a short flight 
over the water giving its ‘ Pill-willy ’ notes, then returned to a clump of 
seaweed just ahead of me and there I left it. 
Clark’s Pond Ipswich, August 14, 1912, one Willet seen at close range. 
Clark’s Pond Ipswich, August 17, 1912, the same Willet, which Mr. 
Maynard said was a young Western Willet. 
Eagle Hill, August 28, 1912, three Killdeer Plover apparently in full 
plumage. — Lidian E. Bridge, West Medford, Mass. . 
cAi aX , xx / in * A * 
