BIRDS OF THE SHORES AND RIVER MARGINS 
*55 
eggs. Four eggs, pale stone, heavily marked at the larger end, and 
sparingly on the smaller end, with dark purplish-black and lavender 
spots; about the middle o£ the shell there are some spots of pale 
greenish-yellow; axis 40 mm., diameter 29 mm. (Mathews and Iredale). 
An egg from the “Seebohm Collection”. Found breeding in south¬ 
east Kangai, in northern Gobi, S.S.W. of Ulan-bator and on Lake 
Orok-nor, where they were numerous. 
6. Oriental Dotterel Charadrius veredns Gould 
ver-e'<ius— L., veredus, fleet. 
distribution. Mongolia, migrating southwards to Australia 
(except south-western Australia). 
notes. Usually in flocks, arriving in Australia during September, 
departing in March. It frequents the seashore and adjoining salt 
marshes, also swampy areas inland. Like most of the Waders, its flight 
is swift and often erratic, and characterized by zigzag turns in all 
directions. When at rest it stands erect and motionless. It is extremely 
timid and wary, and when distuibed utters a sharp whistling note. 
Food: insects, worms, and small crustaceans. An adult in winter 
plumage differs in the almost entire absence of chestnut and black 
on the fore-neck, chest, and sides of breast. 
nest. Not recorded. 
eggs. Not recorded. 
7. Mongolian Sand-dotterel Charadrius mongolus Pallas 
mongolus— Mongolian. 
distribution. Siberia, migrating southwards to Australia (except 
southern Australia). 
notes. Usually in flocks, arriving in Australia during September, 
departing in March. It frequents alike salt marshes and swampy areas 
inland. Little has been recorded of its habits and economy while on 
its annual visits to Australia. Its call-note is a clear, penetrating 
“Drrrriit”. An adult in winter plumage lacks the cinnamon-rufous 
on the head and hind-neck, and the rufous and black bands on the 
fore-neck. 
nest. “A slight hollow in the ground. Lined with leaves and stems 
of Angelica archangelica”— Stejneger. 
eggs. Three, cream-buff to clay colour; spotted, less numerously 
at the smaller end, with markings of irregular size, chiefly of clove- 
brown, bistre, and even as light as wood-brown. The lighter markings 
are generally rather obscure, appearing as if embedded in the shell or 
as though laid on before the ground colour. Breeding-season: Tune 
(Siberia). 
8. Double-banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus Jardine and Selby 
bi-cinc-tus— L., bicinctus , twice banded. 
distribution. Australia (except northern Australia) and Tas- 
