BIRDS OF THE SHORES AND RIVER MARGINS 261 
very timid and wary. Its call-note is a piping whistle, not unlike that 
of the Golden Plover, a species that it resembles in habits and 
economy. 
nest. A depression in the earth, lined with dry leaves and lichen. 
eggs. Four, yellowish-grey to brownish-yellow, covered with dark 
brown spots. Breeding-season: June and July (breeds in the Arctic 
regions). 
22. Golden Plover Pluvialis dominicus P. L. S. Muller 
Plu-vi-d-lis— L., pluvialis , belonging to rain (i.e., spotted): dominicus— 
island of San Domingo, West Indies. 
distribution. North-eastern Siberia and Alaska, migrating to the 
Argentina, the islands of the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, Australia, 
and Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Eastern Golden Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, 
Lesser Golden Plover, and Australia Golden Plover. Usually in flocks, 
arriving in southern Australia during September and October, depart¬ 
ing in March or April. It frequents sea beaches, mud and sand-flats 
of inlets and rivers, salt marshes, and grassy flats. During low tide it 
feeds along the mud and sand-flats, leaving for the marshes and grassy 
flats as the tide rises. It is much tamer than the other species of 
Waders, and is common along the foreshores of our harbours. Food: 
insects, small crustaceans, and worms. 
nest. A mere hollow in the ground upon a piece of turfy land, 
overgrown with moss and lichen, and lined with broken stalks of 
reindeer moss. 
eggs. Four, pale buff, spotted and blotched with rich purplish- 
brown markings, with a few underlying ones of inky-grey. Breeding- 
season: June and July (north-eastern Siberia and Alaska). 
23. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Linnd 
Lim-ds'-a— L., limosus, marshy: lapponica— of Lapland. 
distribution. Northern Europe and northern Asia, migrating to 
tropical Africa, northern India, Malaysia, Australia, Tasmania, New 
Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. 
notes. Also called Barred-rumped Godwit, Pacific Godwit, and 
Kuaka. Usually in small flocks, arriving in Australia during October, 
departing in April. It frequents chiefly the mud and sand-flats of inlets 
or rivers, also the seashore, and is often in the company of other 
Waders. It is exceptionally wary and by no means plentiful. Food: 
small crustaceans and worms. 
nest. A depression in the grass. 
eggs. Four, deep greenish drab to pale drab, covered wtih irregular 
blotches and spots of pale umber-brown. Breeding-season: June and 
July (northern Europe and northern Asia). 
