BLACK-BREASTED PLOVER. 
and the birds split up into pairs again about the following June. Four eggs 
are laid, in a slight hollow in the ground with little or no lining. In all its 
habits the Black-breasted Plover most closely resembles the Lapwing of Europe, 
and save for the difference in the cry might easily be mistaken for that bird at 
a little distance. A Black-breasted Plover will sit on her eggs when a flock of 
sheep is being driven in that direction till half the flock has passed over her 
and then sometimes rise from her nest.” 
Miss Fletcher, of Tasmania, sent me this note : “ The stronghold of these 
birds in the Midlands is about 27 miles south of Cleveland at Tunbridge. There 
was a large flock, however, whose head-quarters were midway between Cleveland 
and the South Esk River. They occasionally spent a day or two around the 
Cleveland Lagoon and the sheep paddocks near by. I have found a clutch 
of four young ones and was present at the finding of a nest of four eggs by 
another naturalist, who gave the clutch to me. This nest was in a hollow 
scratched out beside a heap of horse manure, and I was told by the finder 
that when hunting for eggs of this bird to always search such positions first 
as the birds were very partial to forming their nests by this manure. The 
nest of this species is much easier to find than that of the Spur- wing (Lobibyx). 
When taking the eggs the birds keep close to the spot and make such a noise 
generally, thus attracting many pairs which add their cries to the general 
din. When their young or eggs are in danger the parents will come almost 
to within touching distance. I append a few dates of finding eggs, etc. : — 
'‘23/ 9/08. Four eggs, parent sitting. 15/ 8/10. Young. 
27/10/08. Young ones. 18/ 8/10. Four eggs just chipping, 
6/10/09. Young ones in down. 16/10/10. Four fresh eggs. 
17/ 7/10. Parent sittinsc. 
“ I met with this species only on one occasion, about fifty miles inland, 
while enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Stone, Superintendent of ‘ The Vale 
of the Herbert ’ station, the property of Walter Scott, Esq. [North Queens- 
land]. In the extensive and well-grassed paddocks around the station 
a flock of these birds had taken up their abode. Mr. Stone informed me that 
they remain in the neighbourhood throughout the whole year ; and being 
seldom if ever molested, they showed no symptoms of fear, quietly remaining 
while I walked within a few feet of them.”* 
“ An irregular visitor [to the Richmond District, North Queensland], 
generally in small parties, but I have seen as many as two or three hundred 
together. The cry of this Plover is very similar to that of the preceding 
species, but I think Z. tricolor has a harsher and slightly higher pitched note, 
* Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Load.) 1877, p. 336. 
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