°''i^iV^' j ^Vhite, Birds of Lake Victoria and Murray River. IJ 



ground close to the river, almost submerged, and covered in tea-tree 

 {Melaleuca), we flushed quite a number of these birds. 



Austrotis australis (Choriotis aiisiralis). Australian Bustard. — 

 Very few were seen. 



Threskiornis molucca strictipennis {Ibis molucca). White Ibis. — 

 Thinly distributed over the flooded country. 



Carphibis spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. — Very plentiful in the 

 swamps. 



Spatherodia regia {Platalea regia). Black-billed Spoonbill. — 

 Numbers of these were met along the river and creeks. 



Platibis flavipes. Yellow-billed Spoonbill. — Occasionally seen, but 

 not nearly as plentiful as the preceding species. 



Herodias alba syrmatophorus {H. syrmatophorvts). White Egret. — 

 Seen all along the river and creeks ; the white plumage showed up 

 in strong contrast against the dark background of trees. 



Notophoyx novsehollandise. White-fronted Heron. — Numerous 

 everywhere, nesting at the time of our visit ; several brooding birds 

 seen on their nests. 



Myola pacifica {N . pacifica). White-necked Heron. — These fine 

 birds were also numerous, and it was a common sight to see them 

 wading in the swamp or perched on some dry tree out in the water. 



Nycticorax caledonicus. Australian Night-Heron. — Numbers of 

 these birds, in both adult and immature plumage, were roosting in 

 the big gum-trees during the day-time. 



Chenopis atrata. Black Swan. — Large numbers of these birds on 

 Lake Victoria made a pleasing sight. Met with occasionally in the 

 great lignum swamps. 



Chenonetta jubata (Chlamydochen jubata). Maned Goose or Wood- 

 Duck. — Numbers of these birds were met with perched upon the 

 limbs of trees or feeding along the edge of the swamps. Their strange 

 " konking " call was heard by day and night, Some of these birds 

 at the station at Lake Victoria were very quiet, and came to the 

 garden gate to feed on the green grass. No sign of nesting other than 

 that they were in pairs. 



Dendrocygna javanica (D. arciiata). Whistling-Duck. — I am sure 

 I saw one of these birds fly past on the river. 



Casarca tadornoides. Mountain-Duck. — These fine birds were not 

 numerous along the river or in the swamps, and seemed to prefer 

 large, open lakes. 



Anas superciliosa. Black Duck. 



Virago gibberifrons (Nettium gibberifrons). Grey - Teal. — Very 

 numerous, mostly in pairs, nesting in the hollow limbs of trees out 

 in the water. They would fly round, settle in the water a few feet 

 away from the boat, and swim on in front of us for quite a distance. 



Spatula rhynchotis. Australian Shoveller. — Very few of these Ducks 

 were seen ; the whistling sound when on the wing drew attention to 

 their presence. 



Malacorhynchus membranaceus. Pink-eared Duck. — Seldom seen ; 

 they were nesting without a doubt, although we did not see a nest. 



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