8oO NliSTS AND EGGS Of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



them as a safeguard against the keen-eyed Crow, as whenever the old 

 bird should leave her nest without this covering, situated as they were, 

 they would have been very consjsieuous, as the little mound in which 

 they were placed was the only diy spot for fifty yards or sixty yards 

 around.'" 



Mr. Bennett also found another nest of this species with two eggs 

 on the 29tli April, covered in a similar curioiis manner with small sticks, 

 and another on the 3rd May, with two eggs. In the latter instance 

 (hey were not covered, but were simply deposited on the loose earth 

 on high di-y gioimd. 



The covering over of the eggs ,by the Dottrel is certainly very curious. 

 Mr. C. W. Brash, Boondara Station, near Booligal, Riverina, infoi-ms 

 me he has noticed the eggs, small ends turned downwards or inwards, 

 and covered with pellets of hard mud, just leaving the large ends of the 

 eggs visible. 



Mr. Brash has found the Dottrels veiy tamo, and not particular wlure 

 they lay their eggs. He has observed many in the direct lines of march 

 of travelling sheep, on the main stock routes. In September (1897), 

 overtaking a teamster and while stopping to have a chat, one of the 

 little Dottrels was observed sitting upon its nest, about three yaoi-ds 

 away, apparently quite unconcerned. On another occa.sion five yoimg 

 were noticed in a nest fonried by the depression formed by the hoof of a 

 horse. According to Mr. Brash's experience five is not an unusual 

 number for a clutch, and the birds prefer the hlarl- soil of the plains 

 to nest on. 



Tlie eggs I received from Boondara were collected 13th August (1897), 

 therefore it would appear that this Dotti'el lays dm-ing August, September 

 and October in spring, or diu'ing April and May in autumn, probably 

 according to the rain. One distressingly di-y season (1898). the birds 

 did not appear at all in the district of Boondara. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland was the first to record this fine Dottrel for 

 North-west Australia. He says : " At the first lagoon we passed on 

 approaching the Fitzroy River, numbers of these birds were seen running 

 near the margin of the water. When alarmed, they rose quickly, their 

 long pointed wings enabling them to travel a great distance in a veiy 

 short time. Although on several occasions three or four birds were 

 disturbed nenr together, each went off by itself, either on to the open 

 plain or some other part of the. lagoon. On oui" return along tlic coiuse 

 of the river to Derby, they were frequently distiu'bed some distance 

 from water. Thev were never seen in flocks." 



