AUSTRALIAN BIRD SHOT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN BIRD SHOT

STRAY FLIGHT ACROSS TASMAN FOURTH RECORDED SPECIMEN IN DOMINION A specimen of unusual interest, an Australian spur-winged plover, was presented to the Canterbury Museum this week. A native of Australia, the bird is one of the rare strays to cross the Tasman. Brought down at Lake Ellesmere last Friday by Mr H. King, who mistook it for a duck in the darkness, it is the second specimen recorded as having been taken in the Dominion and the fourth to have been observed. The first was shot at Kai-iwi in 1886, and the second was seen at Hokitika in 1892. Mr E. F. Stead saw one of the birds at Lake Ellesmere about five years ago, and since then there has been no recorded instance of its appearance till the specimen ,at the Museum was taken.

The colours of the plumage are black, white, and olive brown. The "bird is noticeable for its large yellow eyes, the fleshy yellow wattle on the face, and the long crimson legs. The characteristic spur which gives it its name is situated at the bend of the wing. The bird is related to the English lapwing, or peewit. This is the seventh specimen in the collection of stray birds at the museum. The most remarkable of these, according to Mr R. A. Falla, the curator, is a blacktailed Hudsonian godwit, a native of Eastern Arctic America, and even there a rare bird. This and the other specimens in the collection were taken at Lake Ellesmere, an important source of these stray birds. The collection has been built up during many years, the main contributors being Mr Stead and Mr L. A. Shand. It is interesting to note that the spur-winged plover appeared to be thriving at Lake Ellesmere after its long journey and was in excellent condition. '