NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 781 



Dr. Ramsay's, but near a Moriay River swamp, were smeared in the 

 manner indicated. 



The breeding months generally are from September to December.* 



601. — LoBiv.\NELLL's LOBATus, Latham. — (500) 

 SPUR-WINGED PLOVER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. g. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiv., p. 139. 



Previous Descriplioiis of Eggs. — Ramsay : Ibis, vol. iii., new ser., 

 with fig. (1867) ; Halting : Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 458 (1874) ; 

 Campbell : Southern Science Record (1883), also Proc. .\ustn. 

 Assoc, vol. v., p. 429 (1893I. 



Geographical Distrihution . — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 

 South Australia^ Tasmania, and interaiediate islands ; also New 

 Zealand (accidental). 



i\est. — Merely a, hollow on a little knoll or grassy plot, usually 

 siu'rounded by water near the margin of a swamp. Tlie ne.sting hollow 

 is sometimes bai'e ; in other instances Uned with a few grass stalks, short 

 bits of dead sticks, &c. Dimensions, four to five inches across. 



hggs. — Clutch, three to five, but usually four ; elegant in shape, 

 inclined to or are pyriform ; textiue of shell comparatively fine ; 

 surface .glossy ; colour, rich warmish-green, boldly blotched or splashed 

 ail over with olive of different shades. Dimensions of proper clutches 

 ia inches: x\ (1) 3-04 x 1-44,(2) 2-02 x 1-45, (3) 1-96 x 1-44,(4) 1-95 x 1-44; 

 B (1) 1-93x1-42, (2) 1-92x1-38, (3) 1-91x1-39, (4) 1-85x1-38. 

 (Plate 22.) 



Ohservatioun. — This Plover stands proudly on long piu-plish-red legs, 

 with head and back of neck black, dral>coloiu-ed wings and back, with 

 clean white underneath parts, while the curious yellow wattle or lobes 

 on and hanguig from the face match the same coloured eyes. The bird 

 is about fourteen inches in total length, and is armed on each shoulder 

 with a yellow spiur. Hence, it is termed (not inappropriately) the 

 Spui'-winged Plover. 



While the smaller Black-breasted species affects the barest parts of 

 plains, this exceedingly showy bird loves localities of a swampy nature, 

 and its disposition is much the shyer of the two species, yet when called 

 upon to defend its eggs or young the Wattled Plover is bold and 

 courageous, attacking crows and animals long before they reach the nest 

 by making sudden swoops upon and fairly screaming at them. On 

 occasions, like many others of the race, this Plover mimics actions of 

 distress for the express purpose of diverting attention from its nest or 



' See appendix for late breeding note of this and other Limicoline species. 



