BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 193 



dible blackish ; lower maudible yellow for basal half, balance 

 blackish; legs and feet yellowish-brown. Dimensions in mm.: — 

 Length, 655; bill, 79; wing, 320; tail, 132; tarsus, 99. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — Upper surface uniform grey ; cheeks and upper throat 

 white ; rest of under surface as in adult, but no lanceolate plumes 

 on neck and chest. 



Nest. — A platform of stout sticks, with finer ones in the centre, 

 placed in the branch of a tree close to or overhanging water. I 

 have seen nests in lightly timbered country built in trees some 

 considerable distance from water. 



Eggs. — Clutch four to five; elliptical in shape; texture fairly 

 coarse ; surface moderately glossy ; colour pale bluish-green. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch:— (1) 48.5 x 34, (2) 48 x 34, (3) 

 49 X 33, (4) 47 x 33.5, (5) 49 x 34. 



Breeding Season. — September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia in general. 

 New Zealand, and a number of islands in the Malay Archipelago. 



Observations. — The Blue Crane is a very common object in 

 almost every part of the island. It frequents the sea-shore, the 

 banks of tidal rivers, edges of lakes, lagoons, and swamps. Often- 

 times it is to be seen in flocks of a dozen to twenty individuals, 

 though frequently it is a solitary bird. Not only does it seek its 

 food in pools left by the receding tide, or on the edge of the marshy 

 ground of its haunts, but it also wades knee-deep into the water 

 in quest of aquatic insects, Crustacea, fish, &c. Its flight is 

 heavy, with a great flapping of wings ; the neck is much constricted 

 the while. In some districts the Crane is shot and eaten ; it is 

 said to be very good stewed. 



♦WHITE-NECKED (PACIFIC) HERON 



(Notophoyx pacifica, Lath.) 



Male. — Head and neck pale vinous-grey to buffy-white ; upper 

 surface glossy olive-green, the lanceolate feathers on shoulders 

 maroon tipped with slate; edges of wings white; throat white, 

 spotted with a few black spots ; feathers of fore-neck elongated ; 

 remainder of under surface blackish, streaked with white; on 

 either side of the upper breast a patch of elongated purplish-red 

 feathers; sides of body and flanks deep slate colour; upper 

 mandible black, basal half of under mandible yellow ; legs yel- 

 lowish-olive ; feet black. Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 760: 

 bill, 41; wing, 400; tail, 135; tarsus, 126. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Voting. — Head grey ; upper surface dingy ; throat heavily 

 spotted with black; under surface blackish-grey, streaked with 

 white. 



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