BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 119 



Breeding Season. — September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, and Aus- 

 tralia in general. 



Observations. — The Coot is not as generally distributed through- 

 out the island as either of the two preceding species. On some 

 of the lakes and larger lagoons it is, however, fairly numerous. 

 Of late years its numbers have diminished, owing to Duck-shooters 

 taking heavy toll, as it is considered by many very palatable. It 

 is quite a sight to see large flocks of this species feeding in the 

 water, and when suddenly disturbed scuttling off as fast as they 

 can to take shelter in the reeds. Diving is often resorted to when 

 feeding; the birds give a slight upward spring and then disappear 

 for a short space, returning with some food plucked from below. 

 In addition to vegetable stuffs, the usual insects and molluscs 

 found in and about lakes and lagoons are devoured. 



ORDER— LI MICOL/E : PLOVERS, &c. 



FAMILY— (EDICNEMIDit (1 species). 



*STONE-PLOVER (Land Curlew) 

 {Burhinus {CEdicnemus) grallarius, Lath.) 



Male. — Crown of the head and hind-neck ashy -grey, streaked 

 with blackish ; shoulders and back also streaked, but more heavily ; 

 lower back and rump ashy-grey, with blackish shaft-streaks; tail 

 feathers crossed by numerous narrow and irregular bars ; the outer 

 ones are broadly tipped with black; there is also a broad sub- 

 terminal bar of white; lesser wing coverts dark brown; median 

 series dull white, with black shaft-streaks; greater series dark 

 ashy-brown ; primary coverts and quills black, first four primaries 

 broadly banded with white; secondaries white towards base of 

 inner web ; eyebrow white ; band below the eye black ; ear coverts 

 brown; cheeks reddish-brown, streaked with black; throat and 

 under surface white, tinged with tawny and streaked with black; 

 under tail coverts pale cinnamon-buff; bill black; legs yellowish- 

 olive ; feet brownish. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 520 ; bill, 49 ; 

 wing, 270; tail, 155; tarsus, 116. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — " The prevailing colour of the young in down is a 

 light grey, with a darker marking in the shape of an oval line 

 extending from the head to near the end of the back; dark lines 

 also extend from the wings towards the tail " (A. J. Campbell). 



Nest. — None formed, the eggs being laid on the bare ground. 



Eggs. — Clutch two usually; inclined to- oval in shape; texture 

 fairly fine; surface slightly glossy; colour pale buff, blotched all 

 over with ;«iiber and dull slate. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch 

 from Victoria:— (1) 68 x 39, (2) 67 x 38.5. 



