1877.] NORTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND. 337 
about equally dispersed over the whole surface. In some light 
varieties they are less numerous at the thinner end; and these spe- 
cimens are slightly smaller in size. Length 1°05 inch by 0°8 inch; 
the darker and most usual variety 1°1 inch in length by 0°85 inch 
in breadth. 4 
205. ANGIALITIS RUFICAPILLA. 
Aigialitis ruficapilla, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 235. 
Unlike the preceding, this species is seldom found far from the 
sea; they frequent the sands and open salt-water flats, and are 
usually met with in small troops from five to ten in number; the 
nest (if it may be so called) is like all others of the genus I have met 
with, merely a slight depression in the sand or pebbles close to high- 
water mark ; sometimes the eggs are placed among débris containing 
broken shells and coral &c., above the influence of the tide; they 
are usually four, but sometimes three, and occasionally only two 
(but four, I presume, is the correct number for a sitting), placed with 
the pointed ends together ; and without any protection except that 
afforded them by their similarity to the surrounding objects among 
which they have been deposited, they are very difficult to be de- 
tected. Our collection contains eggs taken at Woolongong and 
various parts of the sea-coast of New South Wales, also from near 
Melbourne; but none show any material difference in coloration or 
form ; in size they are slightly larger than those of Mgialitis nigri- 
frons, being 1:2 inch to 1°25 inch in length by 0:93 to 0°94 in 
breadth, of a light pale stone-brown or very light cream-colour, 
spotted sparingly with black dots and rather large irregular black 
blotches and markings, a few of the dots appearing as if beneath the 
surface of the shell. 
They breed from October to December, and sometimes as late as 
January. 
206. ANGIALITIS INORNATA. 
Ochthodromus inornatus, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 237. 
207. AKGIALITIS BICINCTA. 
Ochthodromus? bicinctus, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 238. 
Only once did I meet with these species—of the former a small 
troop on the sand-spits of the Herbert river; of the latter, one soli- 
tary bird remained for a few days on the sands in front of the settle- 
ment at Cardwell. 
208. HimaNnTOPUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould, Handb. B. Austr. ii. p. 246. 
While ascending the Herbert river on the 25th of February 1874, 
and anxiously waiting for a stray shot at an Alligator (Crocodilus bi- 
poreatus); 1 met with the only specimen of this bird I noticed during 
my tour. Firing at the bird I disturbed the Saurian, much to the 
disgust of my companions, as this identical Alligator had of late 
Proc. Zoo. Soc.—1877, No. XXII. 22 
