226 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Notes .—Also called Pied Stilt, Longshanks, Stilt-bird, and Long- 
legged Plover. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting shallow lakes, 
swamps, and tidal flats. It often associates with the Red-necked Avocet 
and other Waders. The call-note of this species is not unlike the bark 
of a small dog. Food: aquatic animals and plants. 
Nest .—Either a slight hollow in the mud at the water’s edge, or a 
compact structure, composed of dried aquatic plants, built in a swamp. 
It usually breeds in colonies, but the nests are scattered along the margins 
of the lakes or swamps. 
Eggs. —Four, greenish-stone, covered with irregular-shaped spots and 
blotches of dark purplish-brown, and smaller underlying markings of 
lavender. Breeding-season: August to December. 
20. Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus Icucocephalus Vieillot 
Clad-o-rJiyncJi-us —Gk, dados, curving branch; Gk, rhynchos, beak: leiic- 
o-cepJi-al-us— Gk, leucos, white; Gk, ccphale, head. 
Distribution .—Australia generally, and Tasmania; accidental to New 
Zealand. 
Notes .—Also called Rottnest Snipe. Usually in pairs or flocks, fre¬ 
quenting lakes, swamps, the margins of streams, and tidal flats. It is very 
similar in habits and economy to the White-headed Stilt, except that it 
seems to prefer salt lakes and salt-water to fresh. 
Nest.—A. slight depression in the ground. Like Terns, it breeds in 
compact colonies. The two recorded breeding-areas are Lake Grace 
(Western Australia) and Lake Callabonna (South Australia). 
... % J -—Two to four, dull white or faintly tinged with cream, covered 
with a tangle of irregular, twisted, and interlacing lines of black or brown 
and underlying markings of grey; some eggs are marked with blotches 
and large spots while others are almost unmarked. Breeding-season: 
July and December are the only months recorded. 
21. Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novce-hollandiee Vieillot 
Re-curv -i-ros’-tra —L., recurvus, turned back; L., rostrum, bill: nova- 
hollandue —of New Holland. 
Zealimd AUStiaHa generaI,y ' and Tasmania; accidental to New 
Notes. Also called Cobbler, Cobbler’s Awl, Painted Lady, Scooper, 
1 rumpeter, and \ elper. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting lakes, 
streams and swamps. It is generally shy and quiet, but becomes very 
iio^y i l s nest is approached. Besides its call-note, which is somewhat 
ov'nJ- m ba L k ° f i a , ( ? g ’ has a P ccuIiar squeaky trumpet-like whistle 
generally uttered during flight. Food: aquatic animals and plants. 
the wifr'c » i depression in the ground, usually among herbage close to 
hardened 1 ^ ome ^ests have a few twigs, pebbles, or pieces of 
d placed round the edge to keep the eggs in position. 
