KiKK. — On the Occurrence of ited-capped Dotterel in New Zealand. 24t 



between Otaki and Waikanae. At first sight I took it to be a very small speci- 

 men of the Banded Dotterel [Cliaradrius bicinctus), several specimens of which 

 were lying near, but observing that the colouration of the feet, breast, and 

 head differed very much from that of C. bicinctus, I carefully preserved the skin. 



Having since made a minute examination, I have not the sKghtest 

 hesitation in pronouncing it to be a specimen of Gould's Hiaticula rufica- 

 pilla ; it appears to be a very common Australian species. 



Mr. Gould, in his "Handbook to the Birds of Australia,"* states: — 

 " The Eed-capped Dotterel is universally dispersed over every part of the 

 sea-shores of Australia that I have visited, and everywhere evinces a 

 greater preference for the shingly beach of the ocean, and especially for 

 deep salt-water bays, than for the sides of rivers and inland waters ; it is 

 very numerous m Tasmania, on Flinders' Island, on the sand-banks at the 

 mouth of the Hunter in New South Wales, and at Port Adelaide in South 

 Australia ; and Gilbert states that it is equally abundant in Western 

 Austraha, where it is likewise so strictly a bird of the coast that he never 

 saw it inland. It is usually met with in pairs, but may be occasionally 

 observed associating in small companies : — 



" Like the Tringca, this bu-d resorts to every possible device in order to 

 lure the intruder from its nest ; throwing itself down upon its breast and 

 flapping its wings, as if in the agonies of death, it wiU so continue until he 

 has approached almost near enough to place his hand upon it, when it 

 moves along for several yards, dragging one of its legs behind, and, if stiU 

 followed, attempts to fly, and so well imitates the motion of a bird wounded 

 in the wing, that the intruder is easily misled, and the eggs remain un- 

 discovered." 



" The male has the forehead crossed by a broad band of white, which 

 gradually diminishes to a point at the posterior angle of the eye ; above, a 

 band of black, which also diminishes to a point at the same place ; from 

 the angle of the mouth to the eye, a line of black, which is continued from 

 the posterior angle of the eye down the sides of the neck ; crown of head, 

 nape, and back of neck, rich rusty red ; all the upper surface and wings 

 pale brown, each feather margined with a stiU lighter tint : primaries, 

 blackish-brown ; the shafts and extreme edge of the inner webs white ; four 

 central tail-feathers dark brown, the remainder white ; all the under surface 

 white ; irides very dark brown ; bill dark reddish brown ; naked part of legs 

 above the tarsi dark greenish grey, tarsi light grey ; feet blackish brown." 



The example before us is probably an accidental straggler to our shores 

 from Australia, it is, however, a very interesting addition to our list of New 

 Zealand birds. 



* Vol. n., p. 235. ~ 



