228 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
distribution. Australia (except the northern portion) and Tas¬ 
mania. 
notes. Also called Black-breasted Plover, Flock Plover, Plain Plover, 
and Tricoloured Plover. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting well- 
grassed lands in the vicinity of water, as well as plains far from it. 
It is partly nomadic, its movements from one district to another being 
influenced by the seasonal conditions. Like the other species of Plovers, 
it resents any interference with its eggs or young, and employs all 
manner of wiles to lure the intruder away, or, protesting loudly, will 
make bold swoops at an observer. Food: insects and their larvae, also 
seeds of grasses and other plants. 
nest. A shallow depression in the ground. 
eggs. Four, light brown, covered with irregular-shaped spots and 
blotches of brown, blackish-brown, and some underlying markings of 
grey. Breeding-season: July to November. 
26. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucoptera Temminck 
Chlid-on'-i-as— Gk, chlidon = ornament: leuc-op'-ter-a—G k, leucos, 
white; Gk, pteron , wing. 
distribution. Southern and central Europe, across central Asia to 
China, migrating southwards to Africa, India, Malaysia, to Australia; 
accidental to North America and New Zealand. 
notes. Also called Eastern White-winged Tern. This species visits 
northern Australia during the spring and summer months, where it 
frequents lakes and swamps. Very little has been recorded of its habits 
while in Australia. The coloured figure represents an adult in winter 
plumage; an adult in breeding plumage has the entire head, neck, 
upper back, breast, flanks, and abdomen glossy black; lower back and 
rump, greyish-black; upper tail-coverts and tail, pure white. 
nest. Composed of vegetable debris piled to form a fairly large 
structure, and placed on water-surrounded clumps of fixed vegetation; 
occasionally on accumulations of pond material floating on the surface. 
Breeds in large colonies, often in association with the Whiskered Tern. 
eggs. Usually three, varying from deep olive or pale chocolate to 
greenish-grey or buff, covered with blotches, dots, or streaks of black or 
umber, generally forming an irregular belt round the larger end. 
Breeding-season: May, June, and July (does not breed in Australia). 
27. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Pallas 
hy'-brid-a—L., hibrida, a mongrel. 
distribution. Australia and Tasmania; also occurs in Europe, 
Africa, central and southern Asia, and Malaysia. 
notes. Also called Marsh Tern. Usually in flocks, frequenting 
chiefly lakes and swamps of the inland districts. It has an easy and 
extremely graceful flight as it passes over the lakes, every now and 
then darting down into the water after food, which consists mostly of 
live fish and aquatic insects and their larvae. 
