^'ESTS AXD rCGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 767 



well knowTi that we have only to mention its giey-mottlcd plumage, 

 which is lighter in colom- upon the miderneath parts of the body, its 

 large yellow eyes and long pale yellowishgi-een legs ; the bird stands about 

 two feet in height. Whether in the tropical forests of Queensland or 

 the vast woods of Gippsland or the drier tracts of the interior provinces 

 and of Western AustraUa, even- dweller of the bush is familiar with the 

 weird melancholy calls of tlie bird at night. Mr. Hem-y Seebohm, in his 

 great work, " The Geographical Distribution of the, family Charadriidce, 

 or the Plovers, Sandpipers, Snipes. ;md their Allies," has left vexy few 

 st,))ie< imtiu-ned, but in re-naming our bird at the " Eastern " Australian 

 Stone Curlew, and in quoting his able friend Mi". J. E. Harting for 

 reference for the description of the egg, he overlooked the fact that 

 Mr. Hartiug's specimen was taJien in Western Australia. 



It has been remarked that the eggs of Stone Plovei-s frequenting the 

 plains north or west of the Dividing Ranges are smaller in size and have 

 the markings more bliu-red or less defined than those on the coastal side. 

 It will be observed by the dimensions given above that the eggs 

 from Western Australia are decidedly smaller. When on my visit, I heard 

 there were two varieties of Stone Plovers in the western ten-itoiy — the 

 larger being a dark bird, and the smaller light-coloiu-ed. But what we 

 hear is not evidence, and the thing lacks confirmation. Yet there may 

 be something to account for the smaller-sized eggs from the western 

 parts, especially when we remember that Gould hinted at a second race 

 of these birds in Australia. 



During my brief sojourn in the Cardwell district, Northern Queens- 

 land, August, 1885, I was surprised to see large flocks, perhaps fifty or 

 sixtv birds, of Stone Plovers camping in the open forest glades. Probably 

 it is a habit, especially amongst yoimger birds, to congi-egate in winter 

 before dispersing southward or elsewhere to breed. 



Breeding months include August to December, and probably January. 

 E.irly in September I recollect picking up, near Lake Tragowel. Victoria, 

 a pair of eggs, just chipped ; by night the chickens were hatched, able to 

 stand up and feed tliemselves. The prevailing coloiu- of the yoimg in 

 down is a light grey, with a dark marking in the shape of an oval Une 

 extending from the head to near the end of the back, dark Hnes also 

 extend from the wings towards the tail. The pai'ent birds at times 

 feign lameness or perform other scheming actions to attract intniders 

 from the vicinity of their young. The young, if alanned, hide them- 

 selves and lie quite motionless, with necks outstretched, rendeiing their 

 discovery a matter of difficultv. A farmer friend of mine was always 

 able to checkmate the Stone Plovers by the aid of a sagacious cattle dog. 

 Duinng breeding season, if he noticed a bird running away in a suspicious 

 manner, when he crossed the trail, he would send the dog back along the 

 line and so pick up the eggs or young. 



As the Stone Plover is the initial species in the fascinating Order 

 of the LimiroJce, I should like to direct attention to the fact that where 

 a pair of eggs is the usual complement laid by any species, the egg 

 possessing the sharper point (at the smaller end) is nearly in every case 

 the longer egg. No doubt the difference in shape and length may be 

 attributed to the sexual difference of the embi-yos, and that the more 



