86 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
movement of any consequence ; but the eggs, laid 
on the bare ground or shingle a few yards back from 
the water's edge, are not often discovered, and the 
only district note I have is of the finding of three at 
Airey's Inlet in the month of December. They are 
of a buff ground-colour, crossed and recrossed with a 
network of amazingly fine lines. 
WHITE-HEADED OR LONG-LEGGED 
STILT 
Himantopus leucocephalus leucocephalus 
Two kinds of Stilt and one Avocet, all of them known 
inland (where they are more common) as " barkers," 
from their yelping cries, visit our district occasionally. 
Though none of them can be described as common, 
it is more usual to hear of the present bird than of 
either of the others. The Avocet's long, upturned 
bill distinguishes him from both the Stilts, and the 
Long-legged Stilt is easily known by his longer legs 
from the Banded Stilt. A visitor to Connewarre, 
therefore, who sees a flock of birds which appear to 
be chiefly black and white with something of the 
flight of Plover, but less spasmodic, and travelling in a 
more compact body and at a greater height, with 
legs stretched out behind, may safely conclude that 
these are Long-legged Stilts. I believe they have 
been becoming more plentiful on the Lake in recent 
years, and it is quite likely that they nest there. 
