240 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Genus ERYTHROGONYS, Gould. 



The single species of this genus appears to be strictly Au- 

 stralian, for I have never seen examples from any other 

 country. 



In structure, actions and economy this elegantly formed 

 bird is very nearly allied to the jEgialites on the one hand, 

 and the Schoenicli on the other. 



Sp. 513. ERYTHROGONYS CINCTUS, Gould. 



Red-kneed Dottrel. 



Erythrogonys cinclus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 155. 

 Vanellus rufiventris, Less. 



Erythrogonys cinctus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. pi. 21. 



Over vrhat extent of country the Red-kneed Dottrel ranges 

 is yet to be determined ; the south-eastern portions of Aus- 

 tralia are the only localities from which, if I recollect rightly, 

 I have ever seen or received specimens. 



It is a summer visitor to New South Wales, where it is 

 esteemed a rare bird, and where its presence is probably alto- 

 gether dependent upon the kind of season that may occur : 

 its natural habits leading it to frequent the borders of lagoons, 

 muddy flats and the banks of rivers ; none but wet and humid 

 seasons, which, it is to be regretted, are so unfrequent in 

 Australia, are suitable to it : I believe it is seldom or ever seen 

 either on or even near the sea-coast, but that it is strictly an 

 inhabitant of the interior. In October and November 1839, I 

 found it tolerably abundant on the flats near Aberdeen, and 

 on the upper part of the Dartbrook, a tributary of the River 

 Hunter, and on visiting the Mokai and Namoi in the follow- 

 ing month I observed it to be equally numerous on those 

 rivers. I seldom saw more than two together, and these were 

 almost always male and female : they appeared, as I have 



