BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 227 
streams, and swamps. It is generally shy and quiet, but becomes very 
noisy if its nest is approached. Besides its call-note, which is somewhat 
like the bark of a dog, it has a peculiar squeaky trumpet-like whistle 
generally uttered during flight. Food: aquatic animals and plants. 
nest. A depression in the ground, usually among herbage close to 
the water’s edge. Some nests have a few twigs, pebbles, or pieces of 
hardened mud placed round the edge to keep the eggs in position. 
eggs. Four, light yellowish-stone to creamy-brown, over which are 
distributed spots, freckles, and blotches of black, and underlying 
markings of inky-grey. Breeding-season: August to December. 
23. Masked Plover Lobibyx miles Boddaert 
Lob-V-byx— Gk, lobos, lobe; Gk, ibyx, a variant of ibis, a bird: mi'-les 
—L., miles, soldier. 
distribution. Northern Australia, from Broome (Western Aus¬ 
tralia) to Brisbane (Queensland); also occurs in the Molucca Islands, 
Timor, Aru Islands, and New Guinea. 
notes. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting the margins of swamps, 
lagoons, and streams. It is nomadic, although odd pairs will remain 
in a district throughout the year. The call-note of this species resembles 
“Keerk, keerk, keerk”, usually uttered when alarmed or when in 
flight. Food: insects, small crustaceans, and herbage. 
nest. A depression in the ground. 
EGGS. Four, greenish-olive or yellowish-stone, covered with freckles, 
spots, and irregular-shaped markings of olive-brown and blackish-brown 
and underlying spots of dull slate. Breeding-season: January to April. 
24. Spur-winged Plover Lobibyx nova-hollandicc Stephens 
novce-hollandia—ol New Holland. 
distri bution. South-eastern Australia (front Coopers Cieek, 
central Australia, to the Fitzroy River, central Queensland), and Tas¬ 
mania; accidental to New Zealand. 
notes. Also called Wattled Plover and Alarm-bird. Usually in pairs 
or flocks, frequenting the margins of swamps, lagoons, and streams. 
It is very shy and wary, and when disturbed utters a shrill alaim note, 
warning its companions as well as other birds in the neighbouihood. 
The call-note “Kurra-Carrak”, is generally voiced while the bird is 
in flight, and is mostly heard at dusk or at daybreak. Food: insects, 
small crustaceans, and herbage. 
nest. A slight depression in the ground. 
eggs. Four, light yellowish-olive or brownish-olive, spotted, freckled, 
and blotched with brownish-black markings and underlying spots of 
dull grey. Breeding-season: July to January. 
25. Banded Plover Zonifer tricolor Vieillot 
Zon'-i-fer—L., zona, band; L., fero, I bear: tri-color— L., tricolor , three- 
coloured. 
