BIRDS OF THE SHORES AND RIVER MARGINS 
255 
Eggs. — Four eggs? pale stone, heavily marked at the larger end, and 
sparingly on the smaller end, with dark purplish-black and lavender spots ; 
about the middle of the shell there are some spots of pale greenish-yellow ; 
axis 40 mm., diameter 29 mm. (Mathews and Iredale). An egg from the 
“Seebohm Collection.” Found breeding in south-east Kangai, in northern 
Gobi, S.S.W. of Ulan-bator and on Lake Orok-nor, where they were 
numerous. 
6. Oriental Dotterel Charadrius veredus Gould 
ver-e-dus — L., veredus. fleet. 
Distribution. — Mongolia, migrating southwards to Australia (except 
south-western Australia). 
Notes. — Usually in flocks, arriving in Australia during September, 
departing in March. It frequents the seashore and adjoining salt marshes, 
also swampy areas inland. Like most of the Waders, its flight is swift 
and often erratic, and characterized by zigzag turns in all directions. 
When at rest it stands erect and motionless. It is extremely timid and 
wary, and when disturbed utters a sharp whistling note. Food: insects, 
worms, and small crustaceans. An adult in winter plumage differs in the 
almost entire absence of chestnut and black on the fore-neck, chest, and 
sides of breast. 
Nest. — Not recorded. 
Eggs . — Not recorded. 
7- Mongolian Sand-dotterel Charadrius mongolus Pallas 
mongolus — Mongolian. 
Distribution. — Siberia, migrating southwards to Australia (except 
southern Australia). 
Notes. — Usually in flocks, arriving in Australia during September, 
departing in March. It frequents alike salt marshes and swampy areas 
inland. Little has been recorded of its habits and economy while on its 
annual visits to Australia. Its call-note is a clear, penetrating “Drrrriit.” 
Am adult in winter plumage lacks the cinnamon-rufous on the head and 
hind-neck, and the rufous and black bands on the fore-neck. 
Nest. — “A slight hollow in the ground. Lined with leaves and stems 
of Angelica archangelica .” — Stejneger. 
Eggs . — Three, cream-buff to clay colour; spotted, less numerously 
at the smaller end, with markings of irregular size, chief!)’ of clove-brown, 
bistre, and even as light as wood-brown. The lighter markings are gener- 
ally rather obscure, appearing as if embedded in the shell or as though 
laid on before the ground colour. Breeding-season: June (Siberia). 
8. Double-banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus Jardine and Selby 
bi-cinc-tus — L., bicinctus , twice banded. 
Distribution . — Australia (except northern Australia) and Tasmania; 
also occurs in New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island. 
