100 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Black-fronted Dottrel. 



Mgialiiis melanops. 



Australia. 



Above dark sandy-brown, with darker bases to the feathers; the 

 greater coverts with white tips; scapulars deep chestnut, forming a patch 

 down each side of the back; primaries black; secondaries white on inner 

 web, dark brown on outer; centre tail feathers blackish, the next tipped 

 with white, the outermost being white; forehead black, and a black 

 patch on the hind neck; a white band encircles the sides of the crown 

 and meets on the nape; throat and underparts white, with broad black 

 collar on fore-neck. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0.65, wing 4.4, tail 2.1, 

 tarsus 0.9. 



Nest a very slight depression on the margins of inland 

 lagoons, rivers, &c. The three eggs are light-buff, thickly 

 marked with minute dots and lines of brown or umber, and 

 being so like the ground on which they are laid, are very difficult 

 to detect; they measure about 1.16 x .86 inch. These birds are 

 not found on the seashore ; only inland. 



The Hooded Dottrel. 



^gialitis cucullata. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Above pale ashy-grey; greater wing-coverts broadly tipped with 

 white; primary coverts slightly fringed with white at the tips; centre 

 tail feathers brown, the others white for the most part, and tipped with 

 white; head, neck and throat black, enclosing white collar round the 

 hind neck; a whitish spot below eye; remainder of under surface white, 

 with black patch on sides of the chest. Total length 8.3 inches, culmen 

 0.7, wing 5.4, tail 2.6, tarsus 1.05. 



Nest a slight hollow in the sand well above high-water 

 mark ; three eggs are generally laid, but oeeasionally only two, 

 of a light stone colour, with blotches and irregular dark-brown 

 markings, of various sizes. The eggs measure about 1.38 x .01 

 inch. 



Suh-family Peltohyatince. 

 Genus Peliohyas. 

 Characters of the sub-family. Confined to Australia. 



