BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 133 



and lines, chiefly of umber. Dimensions in mm. of odd examples : 

 (1) 29 x 20, (2) 28.5 x 21. 



Breeding Season. August to the end of the year. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania (accidental) and Aus- 

 tralia in general. 



Observations. The first record, so far as I am aware, of this 

 species being found in Tasmania was by Mr. W. L. May, of 

 Saridford, in 1896, who shot a specimen. As to whether this 

 species has succeeded in establishing itself here I do not know. 

 Personally I have never met with it in the flesh. 



Unlike other Dottrels, the Black-fronted species does not 

 frequents the exposed sea-beaches, but prefers the shores of inland 

 lagoons and lakes. 



*HOODED DOTTREL 

 (Mgialitis cucullata, Vieill.) 



Male. Head, fore-neck, and a band across the upper part of 

 the back sooty-black ; back of the neck and under surface white ; 

 back and shoulders greyish-brown; centre of the wing white, rest 

 black ; two middle tail feathers black ; the next three on each side 

 white at the base and tip, black in the centre; remainder of 

 feathers white ; bill orange, tipped with black. Dimensions in 

 mm. : Length, 206; bill, 19; wing, 130; tail, 63; tarsus, 25. 



Female. Resembles the male save that the head is mottled 

 with white. 



Young. Crown of the head, back, and upper tail coverts light 

 grey, each feather being narrowly margined with black; semi- 

 circular band of black on nape of neck ; neck, throat, and whole of 

 under surface white; primaries black; secondaries black, narrowly 

 tipped and margined with white; bill black. 



Nest. Just above high water mark a slight circular depression 

 is made in the sand, in which are sometimes placed a few scraps 

 of seaweed. 



Eggs. Clutch two to three; somewhat pyriform in shape; 

 texture fine ; surface without gloss ; ground colour soft stone -grey, 

 spotted and marked all over with irregularly shaped marks of 

 blackish-brown. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : (1) 38 x 26.5, 

 (2) 37 x 27, (3) 38 x 26.5. 



Breeding Season. September to January. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, some of the larger Bass 

 Strait islands, New South Wales, South and Western Australia, 

 and South Queensland. 



Observations. The Hooded Dottrel is plentiful practically 

 everywhere round the coasts of Tasmania. Being very graceful in 

 all its movements, it is very pretty to watch it running over the 

 sands with short, quick steps. When running very fast its legs 

 fairly twinkle, if one may be pardoned for using the term. It is 

 very entertaining to watch a small band feeding at low water 



