RED-KNEED DOTTEREL 71 
RED-KNEED DOTTEREL 
Erythrogonys ductus 
There are a considerable number of species, of which 
this is one, which might be classed as irregular limited 
migrants — that is, birds which do not leave Australia 
at any time, but, breeding regularly in one part 
of the Continent, visit other parts of it, not syste- 
matically, but occasionally, in the autumn and winter. 
The Red-kneed Dotterel, though quite a small and 
slender bird, is most closely related to the Spur- 
winged Plover ; but the bird for which it might most 
easily be mistaken is one of about its own size, namely, 
the Black-fronted Dotterel, both having a black 
V-shaped mark on a white breast. On its rare visits, 
however, to the neighbourhood of Geelong, the Red- 
kneed Dotterel would appear to prefer salt marshes 
near the sea, the Black-fronted Dotterel being a resident 
species which rarely leaves the margins of fresh-water 
streams and lakes. So that the likely localities for 
the respective species do not overlap, and in any case 
the Red-kneed Dotterel stands a good deal higher 
than the other bird, and its bright red colouration on 
the leg above the knee should be a sufficient dis- 
tinguishing mark. Singularly enough there is quite 
a strong first-sight likeness between the eggs of these 
two birds ; but again geographical distribution helps, 
for the Red-kneed Dotterel never breeds south of the 
Divide, while I have seen eggs of the Black-fronted 
bird from as far south as Airey's Inlet, 
