lEDlCNKMUS. 



247 



(Nuiiituiiis ijiuw/'Hs) of the coast, a bird generically and specifically distinct. 'J'lie Soutiiern Stone- 

 Plover evinces a decided preference for open forest lands with a ^;rassy sward, or grassy plains 

 intersected with belts of timber, but occasionally it is met with in thickly wooded mountain 

 ranges. Usually it is extremely shy and wary, and when alarmed flies off at the approach of 

 danger. \'ery frei]uently, however, it relies on its protective colouring, and by keeping perfectly 

 motionless, often standing on one leg, repeatedly escapes observation ; another favourite attitude 

 is to crouch down as close as possible to the ground, and lie perfectlystill with lowered head, and 

 the neck stretched to the full length along the ground. Usually it is met with in pairs, one's 

 attention being attracted to it, especially in the breeding season, by seeing a bird skulking silently 

 away, and when close pressed taking to flight, its mate, perhaps until then unobserved, rising simul- 

 taneously with it. Near Sydney it is more frecjuently met with on the open forest lands between 

 Toongabbie and Penrith, while at Ijlacktown, on several occasions, I ha\e occasionally flushed 



small flocks of seven to ten in number. .\ couple 

 of pairs also used to breed every year at Kose\'ille, 

 in the paddocks near the railway line, but the land 

 has now been cut up for residential purposes. In 

 1903 a pair used to frequent the larger tree-grown 

 beds of the Potanic Gardens, Sydney. 



The notes of the Southern Stone-Plover, which 

 resembles the sound of " koo-loo, koo-loo," followed 

 by a rapidly uttered shrill call, is the most melan- 

 choly and weird of all bird's notes heard after night- 

 fall in the Australian bush. It is commenced by 

 one bird, and is gradually taken up by all in the 

 neighbourhood, until there is a perfect chorus of 

 dismal sounds. Especially are they to lie heard 

 before a shower of rain. 



Much of its food is obtained at dusl< or in the night, 

 and consists principally of various kinds of insects, 

 grubs, worms and small molluscs; for this reason 

 it is very useful in ridding a garden of these pests, and 

 is often kept in semi-domestication. A half-grown bird 

 I had for some time in my garden, adapted itself to 

 its enxironment, and could, by tfattening itself on the 

 ground, sufficiently secrete itself. When discovered, 

 one could see it was simply watching the intruder 

 through its half-closed eyes. 



In New South Wales this species is Included in the schedule of the " Bird Protection Act," 

 for it is a most useful bird, and although sought after by some persons for the table, is not in 

 great request as an article of diet. Notwithstanding it is sometimes, however, shot in the close 

 season, but this can only be done by incurring the risk of a heavy penalty. 



The Curator informed me that around Colo \'ale, in the Mittagong District, the introduced 

 Fox is answerable for the almost total disappearance of this interesting bird. 



From Copmanhurst, Upper Clarence District, Mr. George Savidge wrote :~" The Stone- 

 Plover i^/i;;;'//;;;;/.? /rm//<7n»s; is plentifully dispersed about the Clarence River District. I have 

 seen these birds on the coast, and at the back of the large swamp behind Ulmarra ; about Copman- 

 hurst and the Upper Clarence it is a common species, and shows a preference for stony gravelly 

 ridges well sheltered by timber ; it seems particularly fond of the stony shingies that border the 



SOUTHERN STONE- PLOVKR 



