HIATICULA INORNATA, Gow.
Allied Dottrel.

Fliaticula inornata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe.. Part XIV.

 

I nave for some years had in my possession two examples of this species, the uniformity of whose colouring
suggested the term of tnornata as an appropriate appellation ; lately, however, through the kindness of
Lieut. Ince, R.N., I have received other examples with a brighter style of marking, which is doubtless charac-
teristic of the summer or breeding-season ; and which renders the above name only applicable to the bird
when in the plumage of winter. It is nearly allied to the Hiaticula Wilsonii of North America, of which
it forms a beautiful representative in the distant country of which it is a native.

I possess no information whatever as to the extent of the range of this new species; Mr. Gilbert found
it abundant on most of the sandy points and bays in the neighbourhood of Port Essington, and I believe
that it also inhabits the islands in Torres’ Straits and New Guinea; Lieut. Ince’s specimens were procured
on Oomaga Island in Torres’ Straits.

That an extraordinary difference exists in the relative size of the sexes is evident, some specimens being
fully a third less than others, but I have not yet had sufficient opportunities to satisfy myself on the subject.

The stomachs of those dissected contain the remains of small crustaceous animals, and a large portion of
sand,

The male in summer has the forehead white, above which is a stripe of black ; all the upper surface pale
greyish brown ; crown of the head rufous, which colour is continued on the back and sides of the neck, aud
meeting on the centre of the breast forms a pectoral band ; wings dark brown, the coverts and secondaries
margined and tipped with white; the shafts of the primaries are also white ; rump white; six central tail-
feathers dark brown tipped with white; the lateral feathers white, tinged with brown in the centre ; lores,
line below the eye and ear-coverts black ; chin, throat and all the under surface white; irides dark brown :
bill blackish grey; tarsi light ash-grey; feet greenish grey.

The winter plumage differs in wanting the rufous tints about the head, neck and breast; in the ear-
coverts being brown, and in having a brown patch like the commencement of a band on either side of the
chest.

The figures are of the natural size.