230 
ZOOLOGY. 
numerous on the back and rump, and on the upper tail coverts, assuming the form of transverse bands, generally ; also with 
some spots of ashy white. Entire under parts black, with a brownish or bronzed lustre, under tail coverts mixed or barred 
with white. Forehead, border of the black of the neck, under tail coverts and tibiae, white ; axillary feathers cinereous; 
quills, dark brown ; middle portion of the shafts white, frequently extending slightly to the webs and forming longitudinal 
stripes on the shorter quills ; tail dark brown, with numerous irregular bands of ashy white, and frequently tinged with 
golden yellow ; bill, black ; legs, dark bluish brown. Younger. —Under parts dull ashy, spotted with brownish on the neck 
and breast, frequently more or less mixed with black ; many spots of the upper part dull ashy white ; other spots, especially 
on the rump, golden yellow. 
Total length about 9| inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 2J inches. 
Hab. —All of North America, South America, Northern Asia, Europe. 
Early in October, 1853, I found the golden plover quite abundant in the St Mary’s valley, at 
the western base of the Rocky mountains. They were then found scattered in small flocks 
upon the plains near the junction of the Bitter Root and Hell-Gate streams, which had recently 
been burnt over by the spreading fires so commonly started either by accident or design by 
the wild natives of the far west. 
The birds were remarkably unsuspicious and tame, and although frequently shot at were but 
little alarmed. Those that I killed were very fat, and in excellent condition for the table. I 
never saw this species near the coast in Washington or Oregon, and presume that, if found 
there, it is only accidental. 
In the collections in San Francisco I saw several birds of this species, which had probably 
been obtained in the public markets of that city.—S. 
AEGIALITIS YOCIFERUS, (Linn.) Cassin. 
Kill-fleer. 
Charadrius vociferus, Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 253.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 73; fig. pi. lix.— Nut. Man. II, 
22.'— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835,191 : V, 577 ; pi. 225 .—Ib. Syn. 222 .—Ib. Birds, Am. V. 1842, 
207, pi. 317. 
Aegialtes vociferus, Bon. List, 1838. 
Aegialitis vociferus , Baird and Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 692. 
Figures. — Catesby’s Carolina, Birds, pi. 71.— Buff. PI. Enl. 286.— Wilson’s Am. Orn. VIII, pi. 59, fig. 6.— Aud. B. of Am. 
pi. 225, oct. ed. V. pi. 317. 
Sp. Ch —Wings long, reaching to the end of the tail, which is also rather long. Head above and upper parts of the body 
light brown with a greenish tinge, rump and upper tail covers rufous, lighter on the latter. Front and lines over and under 
the eye, white, another band of black in front above the white band ; stripe from the base of the bill towards the occiput, 
brownish black ; ring encircling the neck and wide band on the breast, black; throat white, which color extends upwards 
around the neck; other under parts white. Quills brownish black with about half of their inner webs white, shorter 
primaries with a large spot of white on their outer webs, secondaries widely tipped or edged with white. Tail feathers pale 
rufous at base ; the four middle light olive brown tipped with white, and with a wide subterminal band of black ; lateral 
feathers widely tipped with white. Entire upper plumage frequently edged and tipped with rufous. Very young have upper 
parts light gray, with a longitudinal band on the head and back black ; under parts white. Total length about 9£ inches, 
wing, 6£ ; tail, 3£ inches. 
Length of a Rocky mountain specimen, 10. 75 inches; extent 20. 75 ; bill black; feet yellow. 
Bab. —North and South America. 
This plover is a common species in Minnesota, Oregon, and Nebraska Territories, breeding- 
in summer throughout this immense range. In winter they are sparingly found about Puget 
Sound, as in the east, seemingly preferring the beaches and sand pits near salt water duriug 
the cold months. The greater number of individuals, however, retire in the fall to the south; 
not returning to the vicinity of the sound until about the end of April. They then repair in 
