THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. Ill 



Microtribonyx vetitralis (Black-tailed Native Hen). — A very rare species in these parts, but about 

 a dozen birds put in an appearance during the winter of 1909. taking up their abode at a dam near 

 mv house, and started nesting almost immediately. I took ten clutches of their eggs, and they laid 

 from two to eight eggs for a sitting. They place their nests in a great variety of situations ; some 

 were in tussocks growing in water, others in the water roots of willow trees, some a few feet from 

 the ground in the first fork ot pepper trees, but one was placed in a most extrordinary position ten 

 feet above the water in a white box tree. With the exception of two of these birds, they all departed 

 before the end of the year. Although the two remained for several years they did not breed again ; 

 then one disappeared. Tin- other is here still, having remained at the house dam for eight years, 

 and 1 can hear it calling at the time of writing. 



Podicipes novat hollandiae [Black-throated Grebe). — After heavy rains which fill the lagoons 

 these birds put in an appearance almost immediately. Upon one occasion there was a very heavy 

 thunderstorm about live o'clock in the evening ; it filled a swamp which had been dry for many 

 months, and as it was the break-up ol a protracted drought there had not been sufficient suitable water 

 anywhere in the district lor these birds, but when passing the swamp early next morning I was 

 Surprised to see about a dozen Black-throated Grebe upon the water. In suitable seasons they breed 

 here freely, and 1 have seen their nests containing eggs from the first week in September to the end 

 of January. Some years the Ravens find them out and destroy all their eggs, in spite ol the birds 

 covering them with water weeds before leaving the nests. 



Lobivanelltts lobatus (Spur winged Plover). — A permanent resident, lint in some years seen in 

 rather large flocks, while in others only a few scattered pairs are to be met with. Their coming in 

 great numbers is not owing to good seasons, because I have seen them here in large flocks during 

 droughts. Their favourite haunts are near shallow swamps and open paddocks with short grass. 

 They are extremely wary birds, being very difficult to approach. When darting down over water 

 they rank amongst the fastest flying of Australian birds. They breed here very freely, and when 

 disturbed from the nest they will not return while the intruder is in sight. Their eggs are very difficult 

 to find without hiding and watching the sitting bird until it returns to the nest, which is usually much 

 more substantially constructed here than those I have seen in other districts. I have never seen 

 more than lour eggs for a sitting, and they show considerable variation in shape, colour and markings. 

 They mostly commence to lay about the middle of July and finish about the end of September, and 

 unless their eggs or young are lost they only rear one brood in a season. On November 25th, 1909, 

 f found a nest with the eggs just hatching, this being the latest which has come under my notice. 



Zoinfcr tricolor (Black-breasted Plover). — Some years they arrive in large flocks in January, 

 mostly immature birds, and during the heat of the day are to be met with beneath shady trees, usually 

 at no great distance from water. In cool weather they scatter about the more open paddocks and 

 plains. A few of them always remain to breed here. They are very solicitous for their eggs and 

 young. If disturbed from their nest they will soon return, in spite of an intruder being only a short 

 distance away and clearly in sight. They generally lay four eggs for a sitting, most of which show 

 very little variation. I have found their nests containing eggs from the last week in May up till 

 November 12th. If the material is available their nest is invariably placed amongst horse-dung. 

 There is always a nest built, though in some cases it is very scanty, but I have never seen the eggs on 

 bare ground. 



JEgialiiis melanops (Black-fronted Dotterel). — Always found here in great numbers, no matter 

 what the season may be. After the breeding is finished they sometimes gather together in great 

 numbers, usually about a dam in which the water has receded considerably, leaving broad, bare, muddy 

 margins ; but they are mostly met with in pairs or single birds, and usually in the vicinity of water. 

 They place their nests, if such they can be called, in a great variety of situations, but usually it is 

 a mere depression in gravel or sand. Like many other species, when disturbed from their nest, they 

 adopt the habit of pretending to be crippled. On 16th November, 191 7, I saw the best instance of 

 this which has ever come under my notice. I suddenly came upon a sitting bird ; it jumped up from 

 the eggs as if trying to fly, but fell over backwards, exactly like a bird with a joint off one wing. I 



