.VESTS AND EGGS OE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. j-j,y 



times co-niingled. Indeed hybrids, the progcn}- of the two biids, have 

 been kuowu. This may be the case with U. nythalmicu^ (Castehiau and 

 Ramsay), from the Gulf of Carpentaria, which, however, Mr. Seebohni 

 has relegated to the synonym of the Black species. Of tdie several 

 nests found diuing the Field Natm-alists' Expedition in November, 

 1887, to the above-mentioned island, the eggs, which were all in a more 

 or less advanced state of incubation, were somewhat darker in colom' 

 and a size larger than tliose of the other species. The Black variety 

 seemed ^to select a more rocky situation for its i-esting place. The eggs 

 I retained for my collection I took from a ridge of rocks almost 

 suiTouuded by water at high tide. The nest contained a few broken 

 shells, bits of stone, and small pieces of seaweed. The eggs recall a 

 historical shipwreck, for within sight of where they were taken was the 

 scene of the deplorable loss of the " Cataraqui," which occurred on the 

 west coast of King Island ni 1845, when no less than 399 souls perished. 



Although I have stated the Sooty was the rarer of the two species 

 of Oyster Catchers on King Island, it proved to be the commoner kind 

 on the Furneaux Islands on the opposite (east) side of Bass Strait, when 

 the Field Naturalists' Club visited that locality, November, 1893. On 

 a rock neai" Woody Island, in Franklin Somid, three nests were found. 

 One, which was photographed (see illustration), and measured seven 

 inches across by one and a half inches deep, was in a hollow piece of rock, 

 sheltei-ed by vegetation ; others were protected by salt-bush. On 

 Samphire Reef a Black Oyster Catcher's nest was found in a. Silver Gull 

 rookeiy. Tlu-ee other nests were taken on a small rock in Adelaide 

 Bay, while the eighth nest was found in a slight hollow at the foot of 

 a grass tussock, and the ninth and last nest was among pig-face weed, 

 on the summit of a rock. All these nests contained a pair of eggs each. 



Breeding months probably the same as the Pied Oyster Catcher, 

 from July to January, but, of coiu-se, not so early on the southern sea- 

 board. Young in down, like the parents, are of a unifoi-m blackish- 

 brown. 



The Plover family, almost \vithout exception, resort to tactics 

 such as feigning lameness or a broken wing to entice intruders from their 

 nest. Some species are more demonstrative than others ; but I think 

 the greatest mimic of all is undoubtedly the Black Oyster Catcher, for, 

 according to Sir Walter Buller, if its young be approached it will not 

 only feign lameness, but roll and tumble on its liack as if in the throes 

 of mortal agony in order to attract attention whilst the downy chicks 

 make good their escape by taking to rock pools, diving imder the 

 projecting ledges, and hiding themselves in the crevices till all danger 

 be overpast. 



