.\i:srs AXD EGGS Of ArSTRAUA.V BIKVS. ;(j(j 



E<j(js. — Clutch, threu to Ave ; in sliapc, pyi-iform, buiiig considerably 

 pointed at the smaller end ; shell, thin ; surface glossy ; colour, rich deep 

 stone or buff, marked with small roundish blotches of umber or dark- 

 brown, which are distributed chiefly on the larger half of tlie egg. In 

 one example of the clutcii now luider notice the markings are inehned 

 to circle round the obtuse end. Dimensions in inches of a beautiful set 

 from Western Australia aa-e : (1) 1-5 x 1-06, (2) 1-48 x 1-07, (3) 1-47 x 1-05. 

 A pair from Riverina. New South Wales, is hot so rich in coloiu-ing, 

 has markings more streaked than spotted, and more of an olixe-brown 

 shade; there arc also imderlyiug markings of dull-grey: (1) 141 x I'Oo, 

 (2) 1-4 X 1-0. (Plate 22.) 



The Australian Dottrel's eggs arc readily distinguished from those 

 of the rest of the Charadriida by the richness of their colour. 



Olm-rvdtiiinx. — Little appears to be known of the movements of this 

 exceedingly fine Dottrel. On the Lower Lachlan, Riverina, it has been 

 observed to arrive diu-ing August, and after rearing yoimg depart again 

 in November, in large flocks. 



The Australian Dottrel is clothed in sandy biifi plumage, with a 

 distinguishing black collar, also with a black mark across the forehead. 

 The total length of a bird, including its yellowish legs, is between seven 

 inches and eight inches. It has a very neat figure. It runs quickly 

 over the gromid, and feeds on worms and insects, perhaps adding to' its 

 diet occasionally shoots of tender herbs. 



It is a noteworthy fact that the immortal Gould, in describing as 

 new this interesting bird in 1840, stated that probably many years would 

 elapse before anything was known of the habits and economy of this 

 interior species. Gould's siu'mises proved correct, for it was not until 

 1882, or forty-two years afterwards, that its eggs were first discovered 

 in New South Wales by Mr. E. G. Vickery, during a siu'veying trip near 

 Wilcanuia, and which were described by Dr. Ramsay, of the Australian 

 Museum. The eggs in my cabinet are from the Mui-cliison district. 

 Western Australia (the latest recorded State included in the geogi-aphical 

 range of this species), and were collected by Mr. C. Cadden in the 

 season 1886. 



Mr. K. H. Bennett, in communicating with Mr. North, sent the 

 following interesting information, which I here copy : " April 26th, 1889. 

 Found to-day a nest of Eudromiax austral is, containing three eggs; this 

 is unusually early, for hitherto I have never known this bird to breed 

 before September or October. The eggs were placed on a small natural 

 mound of earth, some foiu" or five inches in dia.meter, and about the 

 same height above the suiTomiding ground, and completely covered with 

 small sticks some two inches or three inches in length. I disturbed 

 the bird from the nest on which she was sitting, and, noticing only the 

 sticks, at first thought that in consequence of the gi-oimd all being 

 covered with water, to the depth of two or three inches, the i-esult of 

 recent heavy rains, that the bird in this particular instance had departed 

 from the usual custom and had constmcted a kind of nest, and that she 

 had not deposited her eggs ; but on closer examination I found the eggs 

 on the bare gi-ovmd, and that the sticks had been placed carefully over 



