HIATICULA INORNATA, Gould. 
Allied Dottrel. 
Hiaticula inornata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. 
I HAVE for some years had in my possession two examples of this species, the uniformity of whose colouring- 
suggested the term of inornata as an appropriate appellation ; lately, however, through the kindness ot 
Lieut. Ince, R.N., I have received other examples with a brighter style of marking, which is doubtless charac- 
teristic of the summer or breeding-season ; and which renders the above name only applicable to the bird 
when in the plumage of winter. It is nearly allied to the Hiaticula WiUonii of North America, of which 
it forms a beautiful representative in the distant country of which it is a native. 
I possess no information whatever as to the extent of the range of this new species ; Mr. Gilbert found 
it abundant on most of the sandy points and bays in the neighbourhood of Port Essington, and I believe 
that it also inhabits the islands in Torres’ Straits and New Guinea ; Lieut. Ince’s specimens were procured 
on Oomaga Island in Torres’ Straits. 
That an extraordinary difference exists in the relative size of the sexes is evident, some specimens being 
fully a third less than others, but I have not yet had sufficient opportunities to satisfy myself on the subject. 
The stomachs of those dissected contain the remains of small crustaceous animals, and a large portion of 
sand. 
The male in summer has the forehead white, above which is a stripe of black ; all the upper surface pale 
greyish brown ; crown of the head rufous, which colour is continued on the back and sides of the neck, and 
meeting on the centre of the breast forms a pectoral band ; wings dark brown, the coverts and secondaries 
margined and tipped with white ; the shafts of the primaries are also white ; rump white ; six central tail- 
feathers dark brown tipped with white ; the lateral feathers white, tinged with brown in tbe centre ; lores, 
line below the eye and ear-coverts black ; chin, throat and all the under surface white ; irides dark brown ; 
bill blackish grey ; tarsi light ash-grey ; feet greenish grey. 
The winter plumage differs in wanting the rufous tints about the head, neck and breast ; in the ear- 
coverts being brown, and in having a brown patch like the commencement of a band on either side of the 
chest. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
