BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 135 



shallow water in search of their food, which consists of aquatic 

 insects and small molluscs, and displaying their well-balanced 

 bodies in a variety of artistic attitudes. When on the wing the 

 legs are trailed behind with a slight swaying motion, as if to 

 preserve the equipose, and the bird utters a sharp, quick-repeated 

 note hke the yelping of a small cur." 



*BANDED STILT 

 {Cladorhynchus leucocephalus, Vieill.) 



Male. — Whole of the upper surface, including head, neck, and 

 tail, white ; chest crossed by a broad band of chestnut ; wings and 

 centre of abdomen black; bill black; legs flesh colour ("red" — ■ 

 Gould; "yellowish" — A. J. Campbell). Dimensions in mm.: — 

 Length, 439; bill, 72; wing, 198; tail, 90; tarsus, 82. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young.' — "Entirely white below " (E. Hall). 



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

 usually, or should a slight depression be formed it is ornamented 

 with a few scraps of herbage. 



Eggs.' — Clutch four; inclined to pyriform in shape; texture 

 fine; surface slightly glossy; colour rich olive-stone, marked and 

 blotched with sepia and umber. Dimensions in mm. of odd 

 examples :— (1) 45 x 30, (2) 42 x 29.5. 



Breeding Season. — According to Mr. A. J. Campbell, between 

 the months of April and November in the interior. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South, Western, and North-West Australia. 



Observations. — In certain favourable localities it may be seen 

 in small numbers in company with other waterfowl wading about 

 in the mud at the mouths of estuaries, in swamps and lagoons. It 

 does not visit us until near the end of the year, and again departs, 

 after a short stay of a few months, for the interior of the mainland. 

 As may be expected from the nature of its haunts, its food consists 

 of all manner of molluscs and insects gathered in and about the 

 lagoons and mud-flats it frequents. 



Its note may best be described as somewhat similar in sound 

 to the barking of a pup. 



*EED-NECKED AVOCET 



(Recurvirostra novce-hollandice, Vieill.) 



Male. — Head and upper part of the neck chestnut; middle of 



the wings, primaries, and part of the shoulder feathers black ; rest 



of the plumage white. " Length, 18| in.; bill, 3|; wing, 8|; tail, 



3J; tarsus, 3^" (Gould). 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — The eggs are laid on the bare ground, usually near water. 



Eggs. — "Clutch four; long oval in shape; texture of shell 



