74 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
BLACK-BREASTED OR LITTLE PLOVER 
Zonifer tricolor tricolor 
The Spur-winged Plover, as we saw, is a denizen of the 
marshlands ; the Little Plover frequents the plains, 
and particularly that wide belt of bluestone-strewn 
country which, beginning north of Lethbridge, comes 
right down to Fyansford. On the south side of the 
town it is less often seen, and here its range is practi- 
cally limited to the open stretch lying south and east 
of the ridge on which are Mounts Moriac and Duneed. 
This, too, is a stony place, which, like the northern 
belt, bears to-day in its myriads of fragments of 
decomposing igneous rock evidences of a period of 
volcanic activity and correspondingly great lava- 
streams in the remote past. The Little Plover finds 
shelter in these rocks, and is in some measure pro- 
tected when among them by its harmonisation with 
its surroundings. 
It is a very local species. There is some tendency 
to form flocks towards the end of the year, which 
keep together till the following May; but these are 
never found at any considerable distance from last 
season's breeding-place. There is a resemblance 
between this bird and the Spur-wing Plover, par- 
ticularly when the birds have their backs to the 
observer. When you can get a frontal view, there is 
no difficulty in recognising the Little Plover by the 
broad belt of black across his breast, the under parts 
