72 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
There are three examples of the Red-kneed Dotterel 
in the Geelong Museum, shot at Point Henry ; others 
have been obtained at Avalon. These instances will 
be found usually to occur in autumn or winter ; in 
the early summer the Red-kneed Dotterels are all 
at their breeding-places on the banks of lakes and 
dams in the interior. I have seen eggs from Kilfera, 
Ivanhoe, N.S.W. The species is to be regarded in 
this district as one of the rarest wading-birds. 
SPUR-WING PLOVER 
Lohibyx novce-hollandice 
Hardly less eloquent of the desolate wilderness than 
is the long-drawn melancholy wail of the Curlew, the 
sharp, rasping cry of the Spur-winged Plover rings 
out often enough even now by night over the town 
and its suburbs ; whether it be that the birds for 
safety choose the cover of darkness when changing 
their feeding-grounds, or find a weird pleasure in 
mere aimless pilgrimaging high in the realms of 
night. For Spur-wings are widely distributed over 
this, as indeed all other, parts of the State. The 
autumn is the season when they appear most numerous, 
for then they form great bands which frequent alike 
the samphire scrubs bordering Stingaree Bay, the 
edges of Reedy Lake and the wide water-meadows 
about the Gut, and the mangrove flats on the lower 
River towards the Heads, as well as all inland waters 
of any extent. Quite early in July they pair off for 
