BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 131 



Zealand to breed. A pair was observed on 15th September, and 

 on 30th October two pairs were seen, in company with the Red- 

 capped species, which is always here." 



*RED-CAPPED DOTTREL 

 (JEyialitis ruficapilla, Temm.) 



Male. Crown of the head and back of the neck rich rusty-red; 

 between the forehead and the crown of the head is a crescent- 

 shaped line of black; a line of the same colour extends from the 

 corner of the mouth to the eyes, and down the sides of the head; 

 upper surface and wings light brown, each feather tipped with 

 yellowish ; four central tail feathers dark brown, remainder 

 white; primaries blackish-brown, with edges of outer webs white, 

 forehead and under surface white; irides brown; bill black; legs 

 and feet blackish. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 158; bill, 15; 

 wing, 103; tail, 40; tarsus, 25. 



Female. Similar to male, save that the rusty-red colour is 

 pale. 



Nest. A slight depression in the sand a little distance above 

 high water mark, occasionally ornamented with a few pieces of 

 seaweed, but at othar times quite plain. 



Eggs. Clutch two, pyriform in shape; texture fine; surface 

 without gloss; colour usually stone, blotched and spotted with 

 dark brown and sepia. Dimensions in mm. of a selected clutch 

 from the mouth of the Tamar: (1) 30 x 23, (2) 28 x 22. 



Breeding Season. September to October or January. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King Island, the whole 

 of Australia, also New Guinea. 



Observations. The Red-capped Dottrel is, perhaps, the most 

 plentiful of the Dottrels, or Sand-Plovers, to be seen round our 

 coasts. It is in addition the smallest species. It does not congre- 

 gate in flocks as large as some of the other species. 



A note on this species, taken while on a visit to Kelso, at the 

 mouth of the Tamar, may not be without interest : ' ' The first 

 birds to attract my attention were Red-capped Dottrels. These 

 pretty little birds were very numerous on all sides, some busily 

 fishing in the shallow pools ; in one small pool nearly a dozen were 

 counted; some engaged in play, mimic combats, and running 

 hither and thither in sheer exuberance of spirits ; others resting on 

 the dry sand; others, again, flying on rapid wing from one part of 

 the beach to another. The rapidity with which they run is 

 surprising; one can hardly follow their slim little legs as they 

 twinkle over the sand. The flight is very rapid, and generally 

 not far from the surface of the water or the ground. Both when 

 on the wing and on the ground they utter their sharp little cry. 

 These birds have a curious habit, the same as I have noticed in 

 the Silver Gulls i.e., of now and then running sideways for some 



