RED-CAPPED DOTTEREL. 
tame, and searching about in the soft soil for insects, worms, etc. I noted that 
they were in pairs, and were undoubtedly breeding, and that their rufous caps 
were exceptionally bright, especially in the males, and I am sure that this is 
the case when breeding, as in March and April I have observed that they 
with few exceptions don a more sombre garb, and collect in larger numbers on 
the sea-shore, and feed about on the open sands as the tide recedes, and not 
inland as when breeding. 
“ A few were seen running along the sandy shore, bobbing their little 
rufous heads up and down as they picked up small insects found in the soft 
sand.” 
Mr. Charles Belcher reports : “ This species is resident in many parts 
of Southern Victoria, keeping principally to the neighbourhood of the sea and 
adjacent salt lagoons, but not being often seen on the Ocean beach itself. 
It never frequents inland rivers and creeks as does melanops. In the autumn 
and winter it congregates in flocks. The breeding season commences in late 
September and eggs may be found till November. Two only are laid. The 
nest is a slight hollow Hned with broken bits of cockle-shell or tiny pebbles. 
I have found several on the banks of a salt-lake near Point Lonsdale and 
in other similar places along the coast. In every case the site chosen for the 
nest is on the crown of a slight ridge in the ground, not far from the margin 
of the lake or swamp.” 
Mr. H. Stuart Dove writes from Tasmania : “ My friend Mr. H. C. 
Thompson wrote me that he had found eggs of this species. On 29/12/08 
he says : ‘ We have discovered several nests of the Red-capped Dottrel, mostly 
with young ; two of the nests had 2 eggs each, one had 1 egg, the remainder 
had young all about the one age (3 days).’ 
“ Later on, giving further particulars, ‘ a pair had their nest about 4 ft. 
from the esplanade path where it crosses Fenton Street on the wav To the 
Bluff. They had two eggs and were sitting, so you may guess what a lively 
time they had during those days, as holiday-makers were passing along 
every few minutes on their way to the Bluff. Every time anyone came “ 
within 50 or 60 yards, the sitting bird would sneak off the nest and proceed 
by short runs between the stones to the sandy beach; as soon as all was 
quiet she would come back, only to be disturbed again a few minutes later. 
The weather was fairly warm, so I trust the eggs did not suffer. When nesting 
they try various dodges to draw you away from the nest. The eggs are laid 
in a depression among the stones, usually against a large, round, water-worn 
one, about 3 to 5 inches in diameter of a hght grey colour, above high water- 
mark. A pair usually occupy a stony point such as that you find going from 
the mouth of the river to the Bluff. Some of the depressions had a few pieces 
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