NESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. Q41 



while the Straw-necked loves the plains as well as swamps, the other 

 variety ooiifmos itself solely to swamps and other wet localities. The 

 White Ibis is especially interesting, because it is closely allied to or is the 

 Australian representative of the sacred Ibis (I. cethiopica) of Eg}'pt. 

 It is interesting to look at these handsome birds (the Aiisti%iUan 

 variety) and dwell upon the circumstance that by a series of evolutions 

 extending down through ages, or by local adaptations, our Ibis is only 

 slightly different fi-om the very bird which from time immemorial was 

 held in such reverence by the ancient Egyptians, and was deemed 

 worthy of being embalmed. Egyptologists have found many mummies 

 of the Ibis in the old Egyptian burial-places, having been presei-ved 

 for over 3,000 years. 



Tliis is the only species of whose breeding habits I have had per- 

 sonal experience, and an exceedingly interesting experience it proved. 

 It was the 3rd December, 1890. My friend, Mr. George H. Morton, 

 of Murray Meadows, and I decided to proceed to the home of the Ibises 

 immediately after tea, in the cool of the evening. Reaching the other 

 -side of the river (Murray) we haul oiu- " flatt}' or dingy over a narrow 

 strip of land into the swamp beyond. Meirilj' we pole our tiny boat 

 over the clear, miiTor-hke surface of the lagoon, which is so perfectly 

 transparent that beautiful forms of aquatic weeds are readily distin- 

 guished gi-owing below. White lilies, with small circular leaves, float 

 upon the tranquil face of the water. This placid sheet of water appears 

 hundreds of acres in extent, broken here and there with clumps of dai'k- 

 green rushes in contrast with the seared and sunburnt rises on the 

 further shore. We steer for slightly shoaling gi-ound literally crowded 

 with game and other water-fowl. Soon the scene changes. Black 

 Swans quitting the water belaboiu- the suiiace with white-pinioned 

 wings. Black Duck, Shovellers and Teal rise with quacking notes and 

 wliirr of wings, and Stilt Plovers with puppy-like barking notes. How 

 interesting to watch the vaiious flocks wheeling past 1 Now again 

 swiftly repassing — but at a safer distance ; then they disperse in 

 detachments. Pacific Herons, with leisurely flight, and a flock of about 

 a score of Nankeen Herons, are likewise on the wing, and surmounting 

 all are companies of Straw-necked Ibises gracefully ascending in spiral 

 circles so high that the roseate hue from the western sky behind the 

 dark fringe of g^um-trees is beautifully reflected from the snow-white 

 breasts of these birds. We pole to deeper water in the centre of the 

 swamp, towards a large growth of bulrushes. Approaching these, 

 another wonderful revelation confronts us. The whole place is alive 

 and croaking with Ibises of two species — ^the Straw-necked and the 

 White. Tlie dark-coated. Straw-necked Ibises rise first, in companies 

 of about half-hundreds, and fly away. The White species, evidently 

 nesting, is reluctant to follow suit. But they are compelled to move, 

 too, when we shoot the prow of oiu- boat into the rashes amongst their 

 nests. The nests are picturesquely grouped on iiTegular steps or 

 terraces formed by the tops of the rushes being split or fi-ayed out, 

 then trampled or matted together into platforms to within a few inches 

 of the water. Hastily looking at those nearest to us we see a nest with 

 five eggs, another with fom-, and foiu- with three each. Out of the 



