of I lie Strair-nt'ckc'il Ibis. 1S7 



nests have a lining composed ot* a yellow-tlowercd annual 

 Avhich grows on tiie plains, though the bulk have none. 

 Thirty of tliese structures are frequently to be seen on one 

 bush, while others that are smaller hold only from three to a 

 dozen nests. Many of the birds began to breed on September 

 8th this year, having arrived in various-sized companies, 

 each of wiiich seemed to choose a bush of suitable dimen- 

 sions. After due preparation they built their nests and began 

 to lay al.tout the same day, consequently all those on one 

 bush, with few exceptions, contained the same nuniber of eggs. 

 Now as this species is gregarious, and always lives in parties 

 of variable size, it is proijable that the supposition that each 

 flock as it arrives bu'lds in company is correct, the birds 

 composing it being known, as it were, to each other; eou- 

 sequenlly the vast assembly is divided u[) into small detached 

 sections of from three to tiiii'ty pairs. 



From the outskirts of the swamj) only a few birds can be 

 seen ; and those al)()ve the Ijushes in the centre ; but the noise 

 from such a vast concourse closely resembles that of heavy 

 surf beating on a shore, and would be most puzzling if its 

 cause was not apparent. The beaks of the birds are very 

 stiong, and it is surprising what tough green twigs they 

 manage to break off in order to build their nests. J3y far 

 the greater part of these contain three eggs, but many have 

 lour, and a few of them five. 



One might naturally wonder how such a vast number of 

 bitds could find sufficient food on the surrounding plains, 

 especially when the young have to be provided for ; but in a 

 favourable season dark-coloured caterpillars, which do great 

 damage to the herbage, are generally to be found in immense 

 numbers among the grass and weeds during the months of 

 August and September. At this period the various com- 

 panies of Ibises hunt systematically over the flats, eating the 

 caterpillars, and turning over clods of earth, stones, or the 

 like, in the hope of finding some luckless centipede, beetle, or 

 other insect beneath them. Later, in October and November, 

 A\hen the young are hatched, millions of grasshoppers are 

 hatched also, Avhich afford abundant food for the growing 



