794 



A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



centre. Frequently just beyond the reach of water, upon httle hillocks 

 of saaid upon the sea beach ; also occasionally near inland pieces of water 

 (Butler). 



Eijyx. — Clutch, foiu- ; pyrifomi in shape ; textiu'e of shell fine ; 

 siu-face slightly glossy ; colour, stony-grey, marked especially about the 

 larger end with well defined roundish blotches and spots of dark-browii 

 or black and grey. Dimensions in inches ; (1) 1-35 x -98, (2) 1-32 x -98. 



Ohservafiotis. — Seebohni was of opinion that we claim this well-known 

 northern Dottrell to be an Australian bird on " verj' luisatisfactoiy 

 evidence," notwithstanding Gould stated he possessed an undoubted 

 specimen, killed at Port Stephens, New South Wales. However, 

 another Austrahan example may turn up some day. 



It is within the bounds of possibility that the Indian Ringed Dottrel 

 f J?, jrrf/oiil, Legge^ may yet be found to tovich the shores of Australia. 



611. — -i^GiALiTis EUFic.\pii,LA, Teuiminck. — (510) 



RED-CAPPED DOTTREL. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 17. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiv., p. 286. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1848) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 236 (1865) ; Harting : Proc. Zool. 

 Soc, p. 459, with ffg. (1S74) ; Ramsay: Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 P- 337 (iS>77l ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., with fig., p. 306 

 (1889); Campbell : Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. v., p. 436 (1893). 



Geographical DisfrHiiitioii. — Whole of Australia and Tasmania; also 

 New Guinea, New Zealand (accidental). 



Neat. — Usually a slight depression in the sandy ridges of the sea beach, 

 sometimes ornamented with pieces of ch'ied herbage or seaweed or a few 

 small shells in the centre. Dimensions, about 4 inches across by 1 inch 

 deep. 



Effff.-i. — Clutch, two ; shape, pyriform ; shell, soft in appearance and 

 lustreless; colour, pale stony-grey or stone-colour, marked with blotches, 

 dots, and minute spla.shes of dark-brown or sepia. In some clutches the 

 markings are finer in character and distributed over the siu-face, while 

 iui other instances they are more blotched or are confluent about the upper 

 quarter of the egg. Dimensions in inches of selected clutches : 

 (l>l;itc 22.) 



CUitch A (i) .. r32 X -89 (sharper pointed egg) 

 (2) .. 1-26 X -86 



Clutch B(') 1-2 X gi (sharper pointed egg) 



(2) .. I 16 X 'y 



Clutch C (i) .. i'2i X -86 (sharper pointed egg) 

 (2) .. I 19 X -88 



Clutch 1) (i) .. 1-2 X -87 



(2) .. 115 X '85 (sharper pointed egg) 



