SOME USEFUL AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 63 



The Black-breasted Plover (Zonifer tricolor Vieill). 



Gould's Handbook, vol. II, p. 222, No. 502 ; Leach's Bird Book, p. 43, No. 81. 



This handsome ground bird has a very wide range over Australia, and is 

 common on the open grassed plains and about the edges of swamps or river 

 flats. It is usually found in small parties of four or five, tripping over 

 the ground hunting for the insects and small crustaceans found in such 

 localities, rising with a sharp cry when startled, but seldom flying very far 

 before agaic alighting. In the nesting season it is very wary, and if 

 sitting on the four dark-brown, blotched, top shaped eggs (simply deposited 

 in a depression among the grass) the female will creep away at the first 

 alarm, and flying in front of the intruder, will flutter over the grass pretend- 

 ing to have a broken wing, or some more serious malady, chattering all the 

 time as she edges the unwelcome stranger away from her precious eggs. 



The coloration of these eggs so closely resembles the surrounding soil that 

 they are very hard to detect unless the bird is disturbed while sitting upon 

 them. The nestlings can run as soon as they emerge from the shell, and 

 their brown and drab suits of down are even more adapted to their 

 surroundings than the coloration of the eggs. At the first warning cry of 

 the mother the baby plovers at once scatter among the surrounding grass 

 and instinctively squat flat down, hardly moving an eyelid, and even on a, 

 bare plain will often successfully fool the inquisitive hunter. 



After the nesting season the family parties gather together in small flocks 

 of a dozen or more, and hunt over the open plains, their rich black, white, 

 and reddish-brown plumage giving them a very attractive appearance. 



Looked upon as game birds by the sportsman out to kill, they were often 

 shot and added to his bag. but the country resident, however keen a sports- 

 man among wild duck and larger game, is seldom guilty of shooting at our 

 useful Black-breasted Plover. 



The Spur-winged Plover (LoUvanellus lobatus Latham). 



Gould's Handbook, vol. II, p. 220, No. 501 ; Leach's Bird Book, p. 43, No. 80. 



The Spur-winged Plover is met with in many parts of Australia ; though 

 often found in small flocks upon the plains, it is common along the edges of 

 creeks and swamps, where it obtains much of its food. Here it is often 

 a serious annoyance to the sportsman, suddenly flying up in front of him, 

 and with its harsh call-notes warning ducks and teal of his approach. 

 Many a wild duck has escaped from the game-bag by heeding the warning 

 cry of the startled Spur-winged Plover. 



The habits and methods of nesting of this bird are similar to those of the 

 smaller Black-breasted Plover, but in appearance they are very, easily 

 distinguished by their lighter colour, longer legs, and the curious wattles or 

 naked growths below the eyes. The remarkable appendage from which 

 they take their popular name of " spur- winged," consists of a sharp thorn-like 



