126 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



" encircled with a broad band of black, which extends from the 

 base of the bill, below the eye, and across the ear coverts down 

 the sides of the neck on to the fore-neck and breast, where it 

 widens and forms a very broad pectoral band"; rest of under 

 surface, also under wing coverts, white; bill yellow, tipped with 

 black; legs and feet blackish-brown; iris yellow; wattle deep red, 

 base bright yellow. Dimensions in mm. : Length, 285; bill, 24; 

 wing, 200; tail, 94; tarsus, 49.5. 



Female. Plumage similar to male. Dimensions in mm. : 

 Length, 275; bill, 22; wing, 183; tail, 85; tarsus, 44. 



Nestling." Sandy-brown, with black markings; a white 

 collar round the hind-neck; under surface white, with a broad 

 black collar on the breast" (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. A slight indentation in a fallow field or open grass run 

 is lined with a small collection of pieces of dead herbage. 



Eggs. Clutch four; pyriform in shape; texture of shell fine; 

 surface slightly glossy ; colour light olive-stone, usually spotted 

 and blotched all over with small markings of brown. Dimensions 

 in mm. of a clutch: (1) 46 x 30, (2) 44 x 31, (3) 45.5 x 31, <4) 

 45 x 30. 



Breeding Season. September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, Queensland, South and Western Australia. 



Observations. Shooting begins 1st February, ends 30th June. 

 The Black-breasted Plover is more familiar to most people than 

 the species previously discussed, as it is the one more frequently 

 exposed for sale during the open season, and also it resorts to 

 cultivated land in the vicinity of homesteads. Whereas the Spur- 

 winged Plover is hardly ever found away from more or less marshy 

 ground, the species now under review frequents grass lands and 

 cultivated fields impartially. In some districts at certain times 

 of the year it is rather common, moving in fairly large flocks. It 

 seems rather a remarkable thing that two prominent writers, when 

 dealing with Australian ornithology, should persistently overlook 

 the fact that this species and the previous one are found in this 

 island. 



During the shooting season the Black-breasted Plover becomes 

 very wild, often not allowing one to approach to within gunshot. 

 Shooters, if they can obtain a wounded bird, make it cry out; by 

 doing this others are attracted back, when one or two shots can be 

 obtained. It moves over the ground very fast. When feeding it 

 will run a short distance, stop, then hurry on a little further. On 

 several occasions I have been to within a few yards of n flock of 

 this species, and no notice has been taken of me. Certainly, I 

 was without a gun, on the road, and the birds feeding in a field 

 close to the dividing fence. 



It resorts to many of the same devices as the previous one in 

 order to lure intruders from its nest. It is not, however, as 



