122 MORGAN — Aquatic Birds breeding near Adelaide. 



Aquatic Birds breeding near Adelaide. 



By A. M. Morgan, M.B., Ch.B. 



On October 2nd, 1915, I had an opportunity, in company 

 with Mr. C. F. Rischbieth, of visiting - a samphire swamp on the 

 Adelaide plains, where stilts were said to be nesting. When 

 still about a quarter of a mile from the swamp we were met 

 by a few white-headed stilts (Himantopus leucoccphalus), which 

 settled on the ground, and began to dance about with the wings 

 drooping, in a helpless kind of way. As we got nearer more 

 birds arrived from the swamp, and acted in the same way; ail 

 were at the same time uttering their bark-like notes. On 

 entering the swamp Mr. Rischbieth almost at once found a 

 nest containing a single egg, and as we got towards the centre 

 nests became plentiful. About 20 nests were seen altogether, 

 containing mostly three or four eggs, one only contained five. 

 The nests were substantial structures built of samphire twigs, 

 and placed on the top of samphire bushes growing in the water. 

 Although so large they harmonised so well with their sur- 

 roundings that they were by no means conspicuous, and on 

 several occasions each of us waded within a few feet of a nest 

 without seeing it. There had evidently been a recent rise in 

 the water level, for two submerged nests were found, from one 

 of which three eggs had been washed out, and were lying on 

 the bottom. These eggs were taken, and on being blown 

 proved to be slightly incubated. While hunting about for 

 stilts' nests I found a grebe's nest with three eggs, covered 

 over with green water weed. I supposed it was that of the 

 hoary-headed grebe, as that is the commonest species in the 

 locality, but on walking over to a patch of clear water, where 

 some grebes were swimming, I was surprised to find that they 

 were all black-throated grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis novae- 

 fiollandiae). Afterwards about 15 grebes' nests were found, 

 all except two were built in low samphire bushes level with 

 the water, and were simply a mass of green water weed; the 

 two exceptions were floating among some short green rushes. 

 The nests contained from one to four eggs, most of them three. 

 The nests containing one egg were evidently incomplete 

 clutches, as the egs were white, and were not "covered over. 

 Probably the theory that the eggs were covered for warmth 

 and not concealment is correct, as the white fresh eggs are 

 much more conspicuous than the nest stained partly incubated 

 ones. One submerged nest was found. A nest of the red-kneed 



