Birds of Melville Island. 101 



23. Cirrepidesmus mongolus mongolus. Mongolian Sand- 

 Dotterel. 



Charadrius mongolus Pallas, Reise Russ. Reichs, vol. iii. 

 1776, p. 700 : Mongolia. 



Small parties were seen on the beach in November, but 

 none were observed after the 2oth of that month till 

 April and May, when many were noticed in full breeding- 

 plumage. 



24. Pagoa geoffroyi. Large Sand- Dotterel. 

 Charadrius geoffroyi Wagler, Syst. Av., Charadr. 1827, 



p. Gl, sp. 19 : Java. 



This is one of the commonest Waders on the Island, and 

 was usually seen in twos and threes, but never in numbers 

 till February, when large flocks arrived ; many of the birds 

 were now in breeding-plumage, and were very wild. This 

 species is never seen anywhere but on salt tidal creeks and 

 on the sea-shore. They are equally common on mud-banks^ 

 sandy beaches, and shingle. 



25. Leucopolius riificapillus tormenti. Pale Red-capped 

 Dotterel. 



Charadrius ruficapillus tormenti Mathews, Nov. Zool. 

 vol. xviii. 1912, p. 217 : Point Torment, North-west 

 Australia. 



Not common. 



26. Numenms cyanopus. Australian Curlew. 

 Numenius cyanopus Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. 



vol. viii. 1817, p. 306 : New South Wales. 

 Fairly common but very wary. 



27. PhsBopus phseopus variegatus. Eastern Whimbrel. 

 Tantalus variegatus Scopoli, Del. Flor. Faun. Insub. fasc. ii. 



1786, p. 92: Luzon. 



During November only about half-a-dozen Whimbrel were 

 seen, and these in the belts of mangroves. This is another 

 species that is only found on the beach and tidal creeks, 

 and is never seen away from the salt water. In February 

 they appeared a little more numerous. 



