BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 125 



Eggs. — Clutch, three to four usually; pyriform or nearly so in 

 shape ; texture fairly fine ; surface glossy ; colour rich warmish 

 green, somewhat boldly marked with different shades of olive. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch:— (1) 50 x 36, (2) 48 x 35, (3) 

 49 X 36, (4) 48 x 85.5. 



"Eggs show a marked tendency to correspond with the 

 colouration of their environment" (Col. Legge). 



Breeding Season. — August to the end of the year. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, several of the larger 

 islands in Bass Strait, New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- 

 tralia, and Queensland. 



Observations. — Shooting begins 1st February, ends 30th June. 

 This fine bird mostly confines itself to open, swampy localities 

 bordered by grassy uplands. Except during the immediate 

 breeding season it moves in flocks, which vary greatly in size. On 

 the mainland two broods are said to be reared in a season ; in all 

 probability the same applies to Tasmania. The note of the Spur- 

 winged Plover is a harsh cry, which grows very loud and dis- 

 cordant when the bird is alarmed. The ordinary cry is uttered 

 when on the wing. It moves from one feeding ground to another 

 very often under the cover of darkness. On moonlight nights I 

 have on many occasions heard flocks passing over Launceston, 

 calling loudly as they flew. Sometimes one flock can be heard 

 calling to another, which answers in quite a different key. I do 

 not know whether they have any special time for moving ; I have 

 heard them at all times from 9 p.m. until midnight. This Plover 

 is a very courageous bird when there are young or eggs to be 

 defended. Although naturally very shy, it becomes bold and 

 daring in the extreme when real or imaginary danger threatens. 

 In addition to feigning lame or wounded, and doing all in its power 

 to lure the intruder away from its nest, it will boldly attack sheep- 

 dogs and predaceous birds. Not only does it fly screaming round 

 them, but right into their faces to turn them from its nest. It 

 does not hesitate to attack man should occasion arise. Its food 

 consists of insects and the like gathered from off the ground of its 

 haunts. 



Sub-Family — Charadrlinae. 



BLACK-BREASTED PLOVER 



(Zonifer tricolor, Vieill.) 

 Male. — Crown of the head and nape glossy black; back brown, 

 glossed with purplish-bronze; sides of rump and upper tail 

 coverts white; basal half of tail white, terminal half black with 

 the extreme tips of the feathers white ; wing coverts like the back, 

 median series tipped with white; there is also a subterminal bar 

 of black; greater coverts white; primary coverts and quills black; 

 behind the eye a broad streak of white; cheeks and throat white, 



