24S BIRDS or AUSTRALIA. 



Genus CLADORHYNCHUS, G. R. Gray. 



The only species of this form known is pecuHar to Austraha, 

 and differs from Bectirvirostra in several minor particulars, 

 but principally in the structure of the bill. 



Sp. 518. CLADORHYNCHUS PECTORALIS. 



Banded Stilt. 



Leptorhynchus pectoralis, Dubus in Mem. Roy. Acad. Brass., 1835. 

 Himantopus palmatus, Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, part ii. 

 Cladorhynchus pectoralis, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, p. 69. 



Chladorhynchus pectoralis, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. 

 pi. 26. 



During the time that has elapsed since I described this 

 species in the year 1837 I have had an opportunity of ex- 

 amining two other examples, one of which was destitute of 

 the pectoral band on the breast ; whether this mark is merely 

 assumed during summer, or is distinctive of the sexes, I 

 regret to say that not even my visit to Australia has enabled 

 me satisfactorily to determine, never having had the good 

 fortune to meet with it in a state of nature. The Banded 

 Stilt is an inhabitant of the southern and western coast, where 

 it lives much after the manner of the Australian Avocet 

 {Recurvirostra ruhricoUis). While at Adelaide I saw a speci- 

 men that had been shot in that neighbourhood ; and Gilbert, 

 in his Notes from Western Australia, states that he found it 

 on Rottnest Island, but in no other part of the colony. 

 Captain Sturt, who observed it in great numbers during his 

 journey into the interior, says : — " This singular bird, with 

 legs so admirably adapted by their length for wading into 

 the shallow lakes and sheets of water, was seen in large 

 flocks. It was very abundant on Lepson's Lake to the north- 

 w^ard of Cooper's Creek ; and on Strzelecki's Creek it yas 

 sitting on the water making a singular plaintive whistle." 



