268 I,01iIVANKM,IN/E. 



time over three hundred yards up the side of a steep iiill. On another occasion at Middle Park, 

 I was waiting at dusk, witii a rising moon, in sotue low ferns close to the edge of a brackish 

 swamp, for a shot at some Ducks or Teal, plentiful there at the time, when suddenly my 

 attention was diverted by the notes of a Spur-winged Plover. As it flew over me I fired almost 

 at random in the uncertain light, and the bird fell and lay motionless, head downwards and with 

 outspread wings, apparently dead, on the surface of the water. I leisurely divested myself of 

 boots and socks, and proceeded to picic up the bird. When in the act of doing so it recovered 

 and flew away into the adjacent secure retreat of Albeit Paris, at the same time emitting its 

 well known notes. 



The stomach of the Spur- winged Plover is thick' and muscular. Those examined contained 

 the remains of various aquatic beetles, and other insects and their lar\;r, worms, small Crustacea 

 picked up at the water's edge, together with a small quantity of water weeds mixed with gravel. 



Mr. George Savidge wrote as follows from Copmanhurst, Upper Clarence District, New 

 South Wales : — " The Spur-winged Plover (LohivancUns lolmtus) inhaluts all parts of the Clarence 

 Ivi ver Ijistrict, and is usually found not far from swamps and water courses. Its shrill grating notes 

 may be heard night and day. The nest is a few grass stalks and four eggs are laid for a sitting. 

 It is the first bird to give the alarm of danger ; many a Duck owes its life to these wary birds. 

 It shows plenty of courage when its eggs or young are in danger, first of all trying to draw one 

 away, or swooping down upon dogs or cattle if they approach too near. The breeding season 

 commences in July, and eggs may be found till December." 



From Cobborah Station, Cobbora, New South Wales, Mr. Thos. P. Austin wrote me as 

 follows: — " Loliiviiiicllus loliittiis IS iound here in small numbers all through the year, but about 

 March, in a good season, they are seen in flocks of hundreds. As a rule they are a slow flying 

 bird, but at times, when darting downwards across water, they are one of the fastest of our waders, 

 and a sportsman would have to be very quick to pick out a single bird and shoot it. Their 

 nests are usually upon a small rise, on the bare ground in short grass, generally far away from 

 water. .'Vt times they build quite a nest of bits of short, coarse grass, sticks about an inch in 

 length, etc. Their nests are very difficult to find, because they are seldom seen near them, and 

 run away almost as soon as there is the slightest sign of danger. Should, however, a Hawk or 

 a Raven approach the nest, both birds will fly and attack it, till well out of harm's way. Four 

 eggs are nearly always laid for a sitting. I have seen a bird sitting upon her eggs only a few 

 yards from me, but that is a very rare occurrence. When young are in the nest they become 

 very bold, and attack one in much the same manner as the Magpie, although I ha\e never 

 actually known them to touch anyone, but I have had their sharp spur unpleasantly close to my 

 cheek. When disturbed from their eggs, they at times fly straight from their nest, but mostly 

 run away very fast in a crouching manner, and if one watches for them to return to their eggs, 

 it means a long wait out of sight. The young leave the nest the day they are hatched. I saw 

 one nest this year (igocj) on ploughed ground. The birds usually commence to lay about the 

 middle of July, and finish by the end of September : occasionally, however, eggs are not hatched 

 until much later, probably a second brood. (Jn the 25th November, 1909, I saw two young in 

 a nest only just hatched, and a third youngster just coming through the shell." 



Dr. W. Macgillivray sent me the following note from Broken Hill, South-western New 

 South Wales: — " Lnliivaiu-Hns lohatus is common throughout the Broken Hill 1 district, frequenting 

 as is its habit the vicinity of lakes and swamps, where it is usually seen in pairs during the 

 breeding season, and in large flocks after this is over. It is not truly a shore bird, but finds its 

 living amongst the herbage growing on flooded grounds, or on the grassy flats not far from 

 water, where the herbage is not sufficiently thick to prevent it running freely along the ground. 

 It is very watchful, and its loud and stridulant alarm \ery familiar to every one." 



