XXXIII. 



FAMILY TRINGID^E. 



FEW families are more numerous, or more generally distributed over the globe, than this one. As a 

 natural consequence of their wide distribution the Sandpipers show many distinct forms or genera. 

 Some of the Australian species resemble very nearly others inhabiting Europe. 



GENUS LIMNOCINCLUS (Gould). 



THIS genus is represented by two species, one of which, the Limnocinclus pectoralis, belongs to America, 

 the other to Australia, where it may be looked for and found inhabiting marshy districts and the 

 banks of rivers. They run about among the grass and undergrowth, much after the fashion of the true Snipe. 



LIMNOCINCLUS ACUMINATUS. 



MARSH THING A. 



THIS is a small alert bird, dressed in brown and grey. Like the rest of its family it is characterised 

 by a large prominent black eye, which stands out, bead-like, from the head, and gives to it an 

 expression of watchfulness. 



This is a pretty little Sandpiper, to be met with both inland and on the coast, the only desiderata 

 being sandy beaches, marshes, or lagoons, that provide the aquatic vegetation so necessary to its existence. 



Wherever met the Tringa is invariably found in pairs, or in small parties of from six to sixteen 

 in number, tripping over the leaves of aquatic plants as they rest on the surface of the water, or wading 

 up to its body in search of the insects upon which it feeds. As yet there is no authentic information of 

 its breeding habits, which is the more strange as the bird is by no means shy, but will allow of a very 

 near approach before taking wing ; but it is migratory, and probably breeds in Central Asia. 



Contrary to the usual law, the male Tringa is larger than his mate. During the first year the 

 birds assume a rufous tinge on the feathers of the breast and flanks ; the same tint again appears on the 

 back, except where it is varied with greenish white. The adult bird is almost uniformly grey on the 

 upper surfaces, the only white spot being the centre of the abdomen. 



The feathers of all the upper surfaces, very dark brown in the centre and fading into light grey 

 at the edges ; crown of head slightly washed with rufous ; primaries, brown, with white shafts ; under 

 surfaces, white, washed with greyish-brown, each feather having a central dark line ; under tail coverts, 

 conspicuously marked with a streak of brown down the centre ; bill, olive at base, becoming dark brown 

 at tip ; legs, yellowish olive ; irides, black. 



Habitats : Derby (N.W.A.), Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, 

 Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence River Districts, New South 

 Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania, West and South-West Australia, South Coast 

 of New Guinea. 



