[Illustration 164: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.] Page 163 272. EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius apricarius._ A European bird, similar to the next, casually found in Greenland. It is a very abundant bird throughout Europe, breeding in the northern parts. Its habits, nests and eggs are the same as those of the American bird. 272. GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius dominicus dominicus._ Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering south to Patagonia. This handsome bird is about the same size as the Black-bellied Plover (10.5 inches long). No hind toe. Back and tail mottled with black and yellow; below, more or less entirely black to the tail. Young and winter adults, more or less spotted with yellow and blackish-brown above, and grayish-white below, with indistinct streaks on the breast. Often confused with the last species in this plumage, but is smaller, bill smaller and more slender, and the axillars, or feathers nearest the body, under the wings, are gray while those of the Black-bellied Plover are black. This species is now regarded as rare on the North Atlantic coast during migrations, while in the interior it is more abundant than the last species. They do not seem to be as suspicious as the Black-bellies, and a flock will often allow a close approach, even when they see you. They nest abundantly along the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean. The four eggs are very similar to those of the preceding, but smaller. Size 1.90 × 1.30. Data.--Peel River, Arctic America, June 1, 1898. Nest of grasses and leaves on the ground in the moss. 272a. PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius dominicus fulvus._ Range.--An Asiatic species, breeding in northern Asia and on the islands and coast of Asia. Very like the preceding, but more golden color on the back and wings. Nesting and eggs the same. [Illustration 165: Black-bellied Plover. Golden Plover.] [Illustration: Greenish buff.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 164 [Illustration 166: A. R. Spaid. NEST AND EGGS OF KILLDEER.] Page 165 273. Killdeer. _Oxyechus vociferus._ Range.--Temperate North America from the southern parts of Canada southward. Next to the Spotted Sandpiper, this bird is the most common of the shore birds in the United States. It is rarely seen in New England, but is common south of there and in the interior of the country to Canada. They are very noisy birds, continually uttering their "kil-deer, kil-deer" from which they take their name. They nest anywhere on the ground, generally near water, placing their nests in fields, cornfields or meadows. The eggs are drab or greenish buff and profusely spotted with black. Size 1.50 × 1.10. Data.--Refugio county, Texas, May 11, 1899. 4 eggs in a depression on the ground, lined with a few grasses. 274. SEMIPALMATED. _Ægialitis semipalmata._ Range.--North America, breeding in the interior of Canada and wintering south from the Gulf States.