RECURVI ROSTRA RV BRICOLLIS. (Temm). 



RED-NECKED A VOCET. Genus : Rbcdrvirostra. 



THEREYKR the sen coast, inland river, lake, or marshy lagoon offer hunting grounds for wading 

 birds, the red lucked avoeet may be found in Australia. Wading knee-deep in water, or 

 swimming when necessary, it is a beautiful object in nature, and curious as well from the peculiar 

 structure of its bill, which is admirably fitted to gather from the surface of the mud such mpluscs 

 and insects as it feeds upon. Its feet, too, offer some variation from the ordinary waders, as they 

 are partially webbed to enable it to pass over the soft surface of the ground. 



The sexes scarcely vary in size and do not differ in plumage. 



Dr. E I\ Ramsay contributes some interesting information concerning the Avocet. He says: — 



" Mr. R. H. Bennett informs me that this species lays four eggs for a sitting, and breeds 

 dining the months of September to December, laying its eggs on the bare ground without making 

 any nest, and sometimes close to the water's edge. The present specimens were found among the 

 herbage usually growing about the sheep tanks in the interior of the country, and were taken in the 

 Lachlan District; the ground colour varies from light stone colour to creamy yellow, some of the 

 ormer tint have a faint olive green shade ; some are heavily blotched towards the thicker end, 



• thers sparingly covered with spots, dots and freckles of dark umber brown and black, with a few 

 obsolete spots of slate grey. A set measures as follows: (1), 2 inches by 1 inch 4 lines (2), 1 inch 



• la lines by 95 lines, (3), 1 inch 4 lines by 95 lines, (4), 1 inch 34 lines by 95 lines. (From Mr. 

 Bennett's Collection)."— (E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S., P.L.S., of N.S.W., Vol. VII, 1882, p. 411). 



Thus we see the manner of incubation is much the same as among the European variety, 

 except that four eggs are laid instead of two. It is not yet ascertained what peculiar use the 

 elastic whalebone-like bill serves, but the inference is that it is intended to procure some special food. 



Head and neck, chestnut, extending downwards on the front of the neck;, middle of the 

 wings, primaries, and part of the scapularies, dark brown or black, the rest of the plumage, white ; 

 h ides, bright red ; bill, black ; legs, greyish blue ; tarsi and feet, tinged with orange. 



Habitats : Derby (N.W.A.), Rockingham Ray, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Richmond 

 and Clarence River Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania 

 W est and South-west Australia, New Zealand. 



