THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
and when shown to even good ornithologists and zoologists, they would 
pronounce them eggs of this bird; the shape, of course, was not precisely 
the same, being more swollen at one end, typical of the Scrub Curlew shape. 
They start breeding early August, and when this occurs, they wiU probably 
have a second clutch, and end late, November, December. They are very 
widely distributed: I have seen them in aU parts of South Australia, also in 
Victoria, New South Wales. It is strange indeed that they are only accidental 
in Tasmania, as that place is well adapted for them, and identical with their 
habitats on the mainland. They feed exclusively on insects, mice, and such- 
like diet, and are most useful birds to the farmer and agriculturist in ridding 
the place of small animal pests ; they are generally protected throughout the 
year all over Australia.” 
Mr. Frank Howe reports : “ This form is found all over South-east 
Australia, and is very partial to the open plain country where there is good 
taU timber and a little scrub or fairly long grass. I have met them in the 
Mallee, at Rushworth and Parwan, and it was exceedingly common around 
Stawell. I have noticed a strange thing with ‘ Curlews,’ Plovers and other 
ground-loving birds, and that is when they are disturbed and run off they 
always take off in a direction to your left and rarely to the right. Their 
weird caU is known to everybody familiar with bushlore, and as they utter it the 
head is held well up, and they take small steps as it is emitted. As you 
disturb them in the nesting season they make off to your left with head well 
down and the body in a crouching position, and it is indeed hard to locate 
the spot, as they have generally ‘ located ’ you jfirst. 
“ The eggs, two and sometimes three, are laid on the ground in grassy 
country, and there is little or no attempt at a nest ; they are very difficult to 
see as they harmonise perfectly with their surroundings, and they are always 
of the same colour as the soil. That is to say, where the soil is chocolate they 
take on that colour, and when grey they assume a greyish tint. The markings, 
too, are a great help in protecting them, as they appear to match the dead 
grasses about the nest.” 
Mr. Charles Belcher writes : “ The ‘ Curlew,’ as it is universally called 
in Australia, is well distributed over Victoria. It does not occur in thick 
bush lands where there are no considerable clearings, but otherwise is 
foimd in most classes of country, with a preference for lightly timbered 
grassy districts. I once found a fresh egg (no trace of a nest) so late as 
December 3rd, but the normal breeding season is the months of August 
to October.” 
Mr. Sandland records : “ Very rare at Bulah, South Australia. I see 
birds once or twice a year and occasionally hear them caUing at night.” 
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