AUSTRALIAN LTMICOLiE. 963 



is recorded in Dr. Ramsay's List from Derby and Rockingham 

 Bay. Southwards of the latter loeaHty it is tbund along- the 

 east coast to Victoria and thence round to South Australia, 

 in the southern part of the interior of which colony it is also 

 to be met with. In the wet season of early spring" it is 

 doubtless likewise found in the interior of West Australia. 

 I found it common in the month of August on marshes in 

 Riverina, and several pairs noticed there appeared by their 

 actions and anxious movements to be breeding in the locality. 

 In this colony its visits have been chiefly confined to the 

 north coast, where Mr. E. D. Atkinson informs me he has 

 seen it on one or two occasions. In New Zealand, Buller 

 records it from the Ashburton and Kaiapoi Rivers, the south- 

 west coast of the Wellington Province, Dunedin, the 

 Whakatipu Lake, and other localities, 



21. HlMANTOPUS PECTORALIS. 



(Banded Stilt). 



Leptorhynchiis pecfoj-nlis^ Dubiis, Mivj;. ZooL, v., pi. 45, (1835). 

 Ctadorliyiic/ms pectoralis (Dubiis), (lOiild, Hiuidb. B. ot'Austr., ii., 

 p. 248, (1865) ; Eanisay, List Austr. B., p. 20, (1888). 



The Banded Stilt is an inhabitant of the southern portion 

 of the continent of Australia, ranging on the east as far 

 north as New South Wales, and on the west up to the Perth 

 District. It is not improbable that as scientific exploration 

 progresses its range will be extended in West Australia farther 

 north than the above district, as there are doubtless littoral 

 tracts of countr}' in that well-known region well suited to its 

 habits. As far as is at present known the Banded Stilt is 

 somewhat erratic in its movements during the season of its 

 internal or local migi'ation, inasmuch as it appears in great 

 numbers in certain localities, while it is unknown in others 

 contiguous to them. Mr. Campbell writes me that on the 

 18tli November, 1889, it appeared on the lake in Rottnest 

 Island in parties of ten to twenty, apparently coming from the 

 far interior, as none were observed on the adjacent mainland. 

 They increased daily till thousands covered the lake, and they 

 departed again in April without breeding. Captain Sturt, as 

 recorded by Gould, saw it in large flocks in the interior, and 

 states that it was very abundant on Lepson's Lake to the 

 north of Cooper's Creek ; he likewise saw it on Strzelecki's 

 Creek. It is not stated at what season of the year Captain 

 Sturt met with the Banded Stilt, nor in what plumage the 



