194 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



STONE PLOVER 



(Land Curlew), 



Biirhiiius grallariii!<^, Lath. 



Bu-rhi'niis gra-la'ri-us. 

 Burhinus (?); grallce, stilts. 



(Edicnemtjs grallarius, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. vi., 



pi. V. 



Geographical DiSTRiBUTioisr. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 ; accidental in 

 5 (W. V. Legge). 



Key to the Species. — Upper surface ashy-grey, much streaked ; lores, 

 narrow eyebrow, and a spot below eye white ; black and rufous 

 line across the eye and ear coverts ; cheeks reddish-brown ; hind 

 toe absent ; bill shorter than head, apical portion swollen and 

 forming marked dertrum, the apical curve of genys ascending 

 gently. Total length, 20 inches. 



This long-legged bird, like the Plovers, is generally to be 

 found on the ground, but, unlike the latter birds, who prefer 

 the plain, it frequents either the timbered country or the 

 grassy open spaces to be found intersecting this class of 

 country. 



The weird, melancholy call of this bird, interpreted " wee- 

 loo " or " cur-loo," may often be heard at night by those who 

 visit its haunts. It is not a nocturnal bird in the same sense as 

 the Owl or Morepork, though it feeds at night as well as 

 during the day ; it rather resembles the ducks, geese, and 

 waders in general, who often move about from one spot to 

 another after nightfall. 



The Stone Plover presents a stately appearance as it struts 

 majestically across a plain, ever and anon casting furtive 

 glances around in search of enemies. Should it be disturbed 

 this strut is changed to a rapid run, defying the efforts of any 

 ground pursuer to outpace. At other times, in order to elude 



