98 IHE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Double-banded Dottrel. 



Ochthodroniiis bicinctus. 



Australia, Tasmania, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. 



General colour above greenish brown; the greater and primary- 

 coverts with a narrow white tip; tail feathers brown tipped with white; 

 forehead and throat white, separated from the brown face by a line of 

 black, which runs along the throat and joins a broad band across the 

 fore-neck; across the chest a broad white band followed by another of 

 deep chestnut; rest of under surface white. Total length 7.5 inches, 

 culmen 0.8, wing 4.95, tail 2.15, tarsus 1.25. In moulting plumage the 

 bands of black and chestnut on the under surface are absent, and no 

 black band on head. 



Nest a depression in the loose soil, usuallj^ near the coast. 

 The three eggs are greenish-stone, streaked and spotted with 

 blackish-brown. They measure about 1.39 x .99 inch. 



The Greater Sand Dottrel. 



Ochthodromus geoffroyi. 



Eastern Asia to Africa, India, and Australia in winter. 



General colour above light brown; the greater series of wing-coverts 

 tipped with white; tail brown, with a broad white tip; on the forepart 

 of the crown a band of cinnamon-rufous, which extends down the side 

 of the neck round the hinder neck, where it forms a broad collar; base 

 of forehead white, followed by a narrow black band; sides of face and 

 under surface of body white, with a broad band of chestnut across the 

 breast; in winter the rufous chest and facial markings are absent. 

 Total length 8.5 inches, culmen 1, wing 5.5, tail 2, tarsus 1.45. 



They breed in Formosa and China, and probably in Japan, 

 making a slight depression in the soil. The eggs are buff, 

 thickly marked with almost black blotches, some being very 

 large and confluent, others smaller and well over the egg. An 

 example in the collection of the author from Formosa measures 

 1..36 X .95 inch. 



The Mongolian Sand Dottrel. 



Ochthodromus mongolus. 



North-east Asia, Alaska, and China to Australia in winter. 



Similar to 0. geoffroyi, but smaller, a broader black band along the 

 side of the face and the ear-coverts being entirely black; the white 

 throat separated from the rufous chest band by a narrow line of black. 

 In winter plumage the facial markings and rufous chest are absent. 

 Total length 7.5 inches, culmen 0.75, wing 5.2, tail 2.1, tarsus 1.2. 



Breeds in Eastern Siberia, The Commander Islands and 

 Tibet. 



