196 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



The food comprises insects, ground fruits, and sundry 

 ground vermin. 



In the same district, and even in the same field, may be 

 found two small species of Plover — the Spur-winged and the 

 Plain Plover. 



Nest. — Simply the bare ground in lightly-timbered country. 



Eggs. — Two to a clutch. They are subject to much 

 variation in the ground colour between a light and dark stone, 

 both having brown spots and irregular blotches upon them to 

 a greater or less degree. Length, 2.2 inches ; breadth, 1.6 

 inches. 



WHITE-FRONTED HERON 



(Blue Crane), 



Xotophoyx iiovaB-liollaiidia;, Lath. 



Noio-foix no-ve- hol-an'di-e. 

 Nofon, the back ; phoxos, tapering to a point ; novce-hollandice, of New 



Holland. 



Ardea nov^-hollandi^. Gould, " Birds of Australia,'' fol., vol. vi., 



pi. 53. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1 to 9 inclusive. 



Key to the Species. — General appearance slaty-grey ; forehead, 

 eyebrow, and throat white ; dorsal plumes grey ; sides of chest 

 vinaceous ; breast plumes lanceolate ; a full crest ; tarsus not 

 twice the length of outer toe and claw; middle claw pectinated. 



Herons, Bitterns, and Ibis represent the useful birds of the 

 swampy country ; the first named, more particularly the 

 White-fronted species, being a good first on the hst. They 

 should be encouraged and protected to the utmost, for their 



