446 



Family RECURYTR0STR1DAE. 

 Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould (White-headed Stilt). 

 Quite a number of these birds was met with at Munger- 

 auie, wading in the shallow swamp formed by the overflow 

 of the bore water ; many of them were immature. 







Total length. 



Expanse of wii 



October 15 ... 



6 



375 mm. 



728 mm. 



October 15 ... 



9 



358 mm. 



691 mm. 



Recurvirostra novae-hollandiae, Vieillot 



(Red-necked Avocet). 



A large flock of these birds (mostly immature) was 



feeding in company with the preceding species on the swamp 



at Mungeranie. They were thrusting their strange 



recurved bills into the mud and uttering a plaintive call. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



October 15 ... 9 413 mm. 736 mm. 



October 15 ... 9 406 mm. 755 mm. 



October 15 ... 9 432 mm. 722 mm. 



October 15 ... 9 413 mm. 739 mm. 



The immature birds could be easily distinguished by the 

 reddish-brown top to the head, the throat almost grey, the 

 feathers of the neck not nearly so rich a red as in the adult. 

 The primaries are black, as with the adult bird, but the wing 

 coverts, instead of being black, are dark brown, each feather 

 tipped with dull white, giving a mottled appearance; bill 

 black ; iris bluish-black ; feet and legs delicate pale blue. 



Family GLAREOLIDAE. 



Sttltia Isabella, Viellot (Australian Pratincole). 

 Only seen upon one occasion ; a pair flew round a large 

 claypan containing water. 



Peltohyas australis, Gould (Australian Dotterel). 



This bird was met with on the tablelands in many places, 

 moving about in small parties, from three or four to a dozen. 

 They are very difficult to pick out amongst the gibbers, having 

 such a protective colouration. There is no doubt they were 

 breeding in many localities, but only once were eggs found, 

 and these when a camel had almost trodden upon the sitting 

 bird. The eggs were laid in a cattle track made when the 

 ground was soft, but since become hard clay. There was not 

 the slightest attempt at making a nest. The bird fluttered 

 off, feigning a broken wing to lure us from the spot. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 14 j 220 mm. 456 mm. 



September 17 9 226 mm. 462 mm. 



October 19 ... 9 217 mm. 456 mm. 



