OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 385 



other hitherto recorded Australian species, in having a consider- 

 able bare space round the eye ; this space is wider in front and 

 above, than behind or below the eye, and, like the bill, is of* a 

 reddish carmine colour. The plumage is of a deep sooty black, 

 with little or no gloss, except perhaps on the head and neck ; the 

 wing and tail feathers are of a blackish brown ; legs deep carmine 

 red. 



Total length from forehead to tip of tail, 15 in.; bill from fore- 

 head 3 - 2 in.; from posterior margin of nostril 2 # 5 ; from gape 

 2-85 ; height, about middle of - 5 ; width, 03 ; width of upper 

 mandible at the posterior margin of nostril, 0'5 ; wing, 10 in.; 

 tail, 4*9 ; tarsus, 2-1 ; mid. toe, 1*9. 



This species is smaller on the whole, and the neck shorter than 

 either of the Australian species ; it comes nearest to H. fuliginosus 

 of Gould, but may be at once distinguished therefrom, by the large 

 bare space round the eye and the short bill. It is, moreover, 

 smaller in all its measurements.* Should this species prove to be 

 undescribed we propose for it the specific name of opthalmicus. t 



Hah. Bountiful Island, The specimen here described is from 

 Mr. Gulliver's collection. 



75. — Numenius cyanopus, Vieill. 



The Norman River specimens differ from those of the same 

 species from New South Wales in having a very decided wash of 

 rufous over the head, chest, and all the upper surface. 



76. Numenius minor, Mull. 



77. Numenius ukopygialis, Gould. 



78. Ibis falcinellus, L. 



79. Threskiornis strictipennis, Gould. 



80. Geroniticus spinicollis, James. 



81. Platalea melanorhyngha, Reich. 



82. Grus australasianus, Gould. 



* H. fuliginosus has bill, 3*8 in.; tail, 5 in.; wing, 11-6 ; tarsus, 2-4 ; mid- 

 toe, 2-25. 



t We regret that, from want of a series of the sooty oyster-catchers from 

 other countries to compare with, we are at present unable to determine this 

 question. 



