Vol. v."] 'Brya'ST, No/es on Soim- L/iiiico//iic Birds. 2^ 



1905 J ' vJ 



Plover. Of course we only see the bird here in its winter dress. 

 I have never seen this bird in full summer plumage. 



This Golden Plover is a very handsome bird, nearly as large as 

 a Snipe, and quite as good for the table. These birds are very wary, 

 but frequent the marshes about Port Phillip in fairly large numbers. 

 They have favourite spots for feeding, and usually fly in certain 

 directions, and by noting these points the s]:)ortsman often obtains 

 a large bag. 



The Greenshank {Glottis glottoidcs) is a constant visitor to our 

 shores, sometimes appearing in small flocks, and at other times in 

 ones and twos. It frequents the sea-shores and lagoons near the 

 sea, preferring sandy points, where it often associates with the 

 Sea Curlew, Marsh Tringa, &c. This bird is much taller than a 

 Snipe, and yet not so heavy. It is a quick flier and very wary, 

 and has a peculiar whistle when disturbed. (All these birds have a 

 characteristic whistle, distinguishing them to the ear of the sports- 

 man at once.) 



The White-headed Stilt [Hiuumtopiis Icitcocephalus). — This Stilt 

 is a tall, slender, graceful bird, of proportions so delicate that the 

 long legs would seem quite out of keeping with the small body, 

 were not its carriage so easy and well poised that no incongruity 

 is noticeable. The specimen I am showing you was shot on the 

 big swamp at Altona, and was one of a flock of over 100. They 

 are rather ugly, laboured fliers, sticking their long legs out behind 

 and making a tremendous row nearly all the time they are flying, the 

 sound being comparable to a number of small dogs trying to bark 

 whilst suffering from a severe cold in the vocal chords. Their food 

 consists entirely of insects and small snails found on the water's 

 margin, or captured by wading knee-deep into the water. 



These birds make their appearance almost every year on the 

 swamps about Altona and Werribee. I have never heard of their 

 eggs being found about that locality. 



The Double-banded Dottrel [Ochthodromm bicindus) is a very 

 beautiful bird, which visits different parts of the States in large 

 flocks, remaining only a few days, and decamping just as suddenly 

 as it comes. It prefers meadow lands to sea beaches, and owing 

 to its habits it has not been studied closely. 



The Doul)le-banded Dottrel runs very swiftly, and the whole 

 flock rise on the wing together, mounting high in the air, through 

 which they pass very quickly, and after flying a mile or so suddenly 

 wheel round and descend to a spot within a hundred yards or so 

 of the one they left. 



The Black-fronted Dottrel [JEgialitis melanops) is found most 

 abundantly in metUum latitudes, but is not known in Tasmania.* 

 However, it is universally distril)uted over the Continent, affecting 

 the shores of fresh-water streams and lakes in the interior rather 

 than the boisterous sea-coast. It is a delicate and beautiful little 



* Mr. \V. L. May states he shot one of these birds at Sandfoid, Tasmania, in 

 1896. But it was probably only an accidental visitor.— Eus. 



