THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
Adult Tnale. Foreliead, middle of crown, lores, a line below the eye, ear-coverts, hind- 
neck, sides of neck and a broad band across the fore-neck deep black ; a line over 
the eye along the sides of the crown and nape white hke the throat, sides of the 
breast, abdomen, and axillaries ; crown of head, back, long scapulars, and long 
innermost secondaries greyish-brown ; short scapulars maroon-chestnut ; lesser 
wing-coverts brown ; median-coverts greyish-brown with dark shaft hnes, greater 
coverts also greyish-brown broadly tipped with white forming a wing-bar ; a 
portion of the outer edge of the wing white ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts 
black ; primary-quills very dark brown ; secondaries white at base, apical portion 
dark brown, some of the inner ones almost entirely white ; upper tail-coverts rufous 
with dark shaft-hnes ; middle tail-feathers dark brown, outer pair white, next pair 
wdth a brown spot on the inner web near the tip, the remainder brown tipped with 
white ; under tail-coverts white, the lateral ones with a black spot on the outer 
web ; under wing-coverts white, the small marginal coverts brown edged with 
white ; quills below dark brown ; bill red , black at tip ; iris brown, eye- 
lids scarlet ; feet red. Total length 165 mm. ; culmen 15, wing 110, tail 53, 
tarsus 25. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male but shghtly smaller. 
Immature. Forehead white wdth dusky tips ; collar black and the frontal band faintly 
indicated ; back uniform brown, the upper tail -coverts with hghter tips ; upper- 
wing-coverts with rufous tips. 
Nestling. “ Upper-surface grey dappled with black, a white collar on the nape ; under 
surface white ” (Campbell). 
Nest. A depression in the earth. 
Eggs. Clutch, three ; ground-colour stone, covered with strange markings of lavender 
and brown, patches of the ground-colour frequently appearing; axis 29-30 mm., 
diameter 21-21.5, 
Breeding-season. May (French, Victoria) ; April, September (Berney, Queensland) ; 
September to December (Belcher). 
Mr. Charles Belcher writes : “ This is a resident species in Victoria, and 
as rare near the sea coast as its Red-capped congener is common ; but inland 
it enjoys a monopoly of the shingly banks of rivers and lagoons. It is 
commonest in Victoria to the north of the dividing range, and particularly 
in the Goulburn and Murray Valleys. It does not congregate in flocks ; 
indeed I do not recollect having ever seen more than half a dozen together. 
The eggs which are three in number, are exceedingly difficult to find : as in 
the case of the Red-capped species detection is avoided by aid of protective 
coloration and the nest is placed in a much greater variety of sites. The 
breeding season extends from September to December. I have known fresh 
eggs taken [at Aivy’s Inlet] as late as December 26th. Practically every 
inland water in Victoria is frequented by one or more pairs of these birds. 
I have seen them on the muddy banks of the Yarra not far above Princes 
Bridge, and often meet with them when driving along up country roads not 
in the immediate vicinity of water.” 
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