V °i* q 11 " 1 C ARTEK ) Birds Occurring in the Region of A'. IF. Cape. I 75 



pressed me that the gun had burst. Walking forward I picked up the 

 dead bird, at the distance of nine yards only, and upon examining the 

 gun discovered that both barrels had gone off, and consequently the 

 specimen was simply riddled with shot, and my face rather severely cut 

 and bruised from a jagged part of the gun butt. 



(112.) ORTHORHAMPiirs MAG.MKOSTRis (Long-billed Stone-Plover). — The 

 native name for this bird is " Wee-lo," same as for the preceding species, 

 on account of the similarity of the cry. A pair or so could invariably 

 be seen at a point on the coast about 45 miles north of Point Cloates, where 

 a heavy surf broke on a coarse shingly beach. Odd birds were seen about 20 

 miles north of Point Cloates, the most southern point at which they were 

 noted. One egg was found, 24th October, 1900, on the top of the shingly 

 ridge mentioned above. It was laid in a depression, without any nesting 

 material. 



(113.) GLAREGLA ORIEXTALIS (Oriental Pratincole;. — These birds were 

 only visitors immediately before rains or stormy weather, and always 

 disappeared soon after. Their occurrences were on the following dates : — 

 19th January, 1900, one shot on beach at Point Cloates after heavy north- 

 east gale ; 9th to 12th February, numerous flocks seen, with strong north- 

 east winds blowing; 18th April, 1900, large flocks at a flooded gum flat 

 25 miles inland — unsettled weather and heavy rains ; 6th December, 

 1900, two seen on a salt-marsh. The natives call these birds " Rain- 

 brother." 



(114.) Arenaria INTERPRES (Turn-stone). — Common on the beach, 

 especially in the summer. They may be seen in less numbers all through 

 the winter months. 



(115.) H.EMATOPUS LONGIROSTRIS (Pied Oyster-catcher, Warrangarree). — 

 A common resident, usually seen in pairs, but about the end of September, 

 after the breeding season, they go in small flocks of 12 or 15. Eggs were 

 taken on various dates from 5th July to 17th September. 



(116.) rLEMATOPUS UNICOLOR (Black Oyster-catcher, Wee-ardoo). — Not 

 so common or tame as the preceding species, and found more where the 

 beach is rocky Eggs were taken on 12th September. 



(117.) ERYTHROGONYS CINCTUS (Red-kneed Dottrel). — This is a rare species, 

 only twice being noted, viz., 20th October, 1899, a pair of adults with 

 three immature birds were seen at a pool 25 miles inland, and 2nd May, 

 1900, when a nest containing four eggs, almost hatching, was found in a 

 tuft of samphire on an island in a flooded salt-marsh. 



(118.) Squatarola helvetica (Grey Plover). — A regular summer visitor 

 arriving about 21st September. They usually feed singly or in pairs on 

 the beach close to the edge of the water, and are very wary. 



(119.) CHARADRIUS FULVUS (Lesser Golden Plover). — A summer visitor, 

 and rather more numerous than the above. This bird seeks its food about 

 high water mark among the seaweed left by the tide. 



(120.) OCHTHODROMUS BICINCTUS (Double-banded Dottrel). — One speci- 

 men only was secured, viz., on 7th December, 1898. 



(121.) OCHTHODROMUS VEREDUS (Oriental Dottrel, Bool gar ra-boolgarra). 

 — A common summer visitor, arriving very regularly the second week 

 in September, and leaving for the unknown breeding haunts about the 

 middle of March. They are seen mostly in flocks on the salt-marshes and 

 open grass or spinifcx flats near the coast, and rarely occur on the beach. 

 When seen on the beach it is usually during the prevalence of parching 



