charaduiin.t;. 



from the iipppr mandiblf' below the eye, on to the sides of the neck, and joinhty the black fore-neck 

 anil nppe.r brensl : remainder of the under surface and Hnde.r tail-coverts mhite ; bill priinrose-yelloii:, 

 the lip hronm : legs and feet dull dark red ; iris yellow; ronnded jleahy excrescence at the base of 

 llie npper juandible rich red. 'J'otiil leni/t/i in llie jlesJi 10 .!'> inches, wing 7'5, tail -l'.'/, bill 1, tarsi(S 

 1-V. 



AnULT PKMALK. — Similar in phnnage to the male. 



Distyib/ilion. — Q'JS6"sland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Central Australia, 

 Western Australia, Tasmania. 



/"I^HE eastern and southern portions of the Australian continent are the stronghold of the 



J_ Black-breasted Plover, over which, in suitable situations, it is freely dispersed, its range 



extending into Southern and Western Australia, and in limited numbers it also occurs in 



Tasmania. It chielly frequents open grassy plains, especially those in the vicinity of shallow 



marshes, although it appears to be (juite 

 independent of water, and obtains its food, 

 which consists chielly of insects and their 

 larva', on verdant well-grassed lands. Near 

 Melbourne it used to be common on the 

 Keilor Plains, also at Maribyrnong, and I 

 have occasionally seen flocks of these birds 

 in the Albert Park, one's attention being 

 more frequently attracted to them by their 

 peculiar notes. I have never, however, 

 found them breeding in that locality, or for 

 that matter the Spur-winged Plover, which 

 at that time was common in the neighbour- 

 hood. 



In New South Wales it is more common 

 on the western side of the Dividing Range, 

 although it is fairly numerous in some of 

 the valleys and on the tablelands of the I-Jlue 

 Mountains. I have never known it to be 

 obtained in the neighbourhood of Sydney. Most of the specimens in the Australian Museum 

 Collection were obtained by the late Mr. K. H. Bennett, on Yandembah Station and in the 

 Mossgiel District, in South-western New South Wales; there are also specimens collected by 

 the late Mr. George Masters, in April, 1867, on Hamilton Plains, Tasmania. In June, 1905, 

 Mr. H. G. Dent presented a handsome semi-albino he had shot at Whitton, New South Wales. 

 It has the general plumage pure white, with the crown of the head, nape, cheeks, ear-coverts, 

 sides of the neck, fore-neck and upper breast brownish-black ; primaries, centres of some of the 

 secondaries and greater wing-coverts brownish-black, the median coverts having a faint brownish 

 wash and passing into brownish-black on the apical portion, with the tips white; band on the 

 apical portion of the tail brownish-black. Total length in the flesh i()-5 inches. The wing- 

 measurement of adult males vary from j^ to 7-8 inches. 



In November, 1896, and again in the same month of the following year, I found these birds 

 common on the open grassy plains near the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers, in Northern New South 

 Wales, also in October, 1909, in company with Mr. Thos. P. Austin, on Cobborah Station, 

 Cobbora. When approaching near their eggs or young, they have recourse to the usual devices 

 to draw one away, but when one is at the nest with eggs, they often dash boldly at the intruder, 

 and attempt by rapid swoops to drive one away. 



liLACK-BEEASTED PLOVER. 



