Order CHA RA DIUIFORMES. 
No. 100. 
Family RECURVIROSTRIDJE. 
CLADORHYNCHUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
BANDED STILT. 
Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. III., pt. n., p. 154, pi. 142, May 
2nd, 1913. 
In the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. XVII., No. VII., 
pp. 1 to 6, Jan. 15th, 1931, the eggs of this bird are described and figured for the 
first time by Mr. L. Glauert. 
They were taken in July at Kukerin, in West Australia, by Mr. and Mrs. 
Cannon, who forwarded 23 eggs, of which 19 were preserved together with a chick. 
The nest is a saucer-shaped depression on the bare ground. The nests being close together, at least 
one to the square foot. 
Eggs. Clutch three ; texture fine with a slight gloss ; ground colour, cartridge buff to dull white, 
heavily blotched with blackish-brown, with scattered spots of slate-grey appearing as if 
beneath the surface. The dark blotches unite to form large irregular patches near the 
broader end ; or buff with irregular lines and scribblings of blackish-brown ; a faint zone 
and irregular slate markings scattered over the surface ; or white with irregular black and 
blackish-brown lines, more plentiful at the broader end. The shape of the egg varies from 
pyriform to long oval, and they measure 65 mm. to 51.75 by 40 to 36. The average being 
about 55 by 38.5. 
Nestling from the egg covered with whitish down, black at the base. The bill is slender, 
pointed and straight, and the feet are webbed as in the adult. Bill 12.5 ; tarsus 25; 
middle toe and nail 14. 
Then the following appeared on April 1st of the same t year : — 
Chick just hatched, pure white. Eyes, bill and legs black. 
Nest in colonies. The eggs are placed in a depression in the bare ground about six inches in diameter, 
and shaped like an inverted cone. 
Eggs. Clutch one to five, but generally three ; texture of the shell chalky, finely granular and 
without gloss. Ground colour varies from deep fawn through all shades to pure white, which 
later seems to predominate. The colour of the markings is mostly ink -black and occasionally 
very deep brown. The edges of the large black blotches are often brown. All the eggs have 
more or less submerged markings of grey or faint purple. The large black blotches can be 
removed by rubbing with a wet handkerchief. The eggs which appear white have usually 
a few dark markings, sometimes submerged. The markings are scriggly lines, twisting and 
turning in every direction, sometimes disposed more closely at the larger end, forming a ring, 
and sometimes spread all over it; or deep black rounded or irregular blotches sometimes 
scattered all over the egg and sometimes forming an irregular zone at the larger end. Or 
the egg may'' be white and dotted fairly uniformly with small black spots. The shape varies 
from blunt ovals to long or short sharply-pointed ovals, and they average 55.3 mm. by 39.6 
(49 to 58 mm. by 36 to 48). Incubation period about 28 days. 
Breeding-season. December and January (North of Lake Frome, South Australia). End of 
July (Kukerin, West Australia). 
50 
