THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
markings, as in hiaticula. The spots are not so heavily confluent as in some eggs 
of hiaticula. The eggs measxire 37 by 27, 36 by 26.5, 36 by 27.5 mm. 
“ The above description is from a set of three eggs, collected on Bering Island by 
Dr. L. Stejneger, June 4, 1882 {U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 21770). Two eggs of a set of 
three collected at the same place and date (No. 21772), have a ground color that is 
nearly olive-buff ; the third egg of the set is like those of the set described above. 
“ The colors mentioned are from Ridgway’s Nomend, of Colors, 1886.” (RichmondMS.) 
Breeding-season. June (Stejneger). 
Mr. J. P. Rogers, writing from North-west Australia, says : “ On Nunranbah 
Station, Fitzroy River, 140 miles from Derby, this bird was first seen on 
September 2nd, 1910 ; on the 9th a flock of 20 was observed and by the 15th 
they were numerous. On the 20th of October they were common on the 
lower Fitzroy River and Salt Marshes near Derby. 
“ On Point Torment, North of Derby, they were rare after the 22nd of 
February, 1911, and had apparently all gone by the 10th April. Odd lots 
were seen amongst the samphire bushes on the edge of the marsh. 
“ They are birds of the grassy flats and were never found on the beach, 
nor were they associated with other species. 
“ On Melville Island, Northern Territory, they were very common.” 
Swinhoe* writes : “ On the South China coast this bird is a rare winter 
visitant ; but in Hainan I found small parties of them on two occasions in 
March, 1868, and procured two examples in winter dress. In May of the 
same year numbers of them were exposed in the markets at Shanghai in 
summer plumage.” 
Stejneger,f writing from the Commander Islands, reports : “ A common 
breeding bird on both islands, appearing during the first half of May and 
returning south about the end of September,” 
The same writer J goes on to say : “ The Mongohan plover is a very common 
resident on the Commander Islands, in fact, one of the most characteristic 
birds of their fauna. 
“It is one of the brightest and handsomest shore birds, and is always 
gladly welcomed when making its appearance during the first half of May. 
I used to watch with delight these elegant runners, wondering at the almost 
incredible rapidity with which they move their legs when chasing each other 
over the pebbly beach, or trying to escape the approaching hunter. Very 
soon, however, the pairs retire to the place chosen for the summer home, and, 
as soon as the eggs are laid, the birds become more shy, and do not expose 
themselves as much as they did before. They do not fly directly from the 
*Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1870, p. 140. 
iProc. U.S. Nat. Mua. 1887, Vol. X., p. 126. 
t Bull. U.S. Nat. Mua.. No. 29, p. 108, 1885. 
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