Vol. II. 

 1903 



J Le Souef, Birds -eggs from Northern Australia. I 57 



eggs are much lighter in colour than others. Two in the collec- 

 tion were found on the 7th and 29th of December respectively, 

 and measure — A, 3.02 x 2.24 ; B, 3.02 x 2.08 inches. 



Hydralector gallinaceus (Comb-crested Jacana, Parra). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxiv., p. 79 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., p. 

 330, sp. 569. 



This graceful bird seems very plentiful on the swamps of the 

 Northern Territory, and many of their floating nests were found, 

 being generally made of water plants. They are often placed 

 on the broad leaves of a water lily, and are then exceedingly 

 picturesque, with their handsome eggs. The dates on which 

 eight clutches were found are — two in September and the rest in 

 January. The eggs are very glossy, in colour yellowish-brown, 

 curiously marked with black lines running thickly in all direc- 

 tions. The lines on some eggs are finer than on others. Two 

 clutches of four measure — A, (i) 1.24 x .89, (2) 1.18 x ,87, (3) 

 1. 15 X .86, (4) 1. 19 X .85 ; B, (i) 1. 12 x .^6, (2) 1.14 x .88, (3) 

 1. 14 X .89, (4) i.ii X .86 inches. 



Ibis Molucca (White Ibis). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 9 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., p. 

 284, sp. 539. 



These birds are exceedingly useful as insect-destroyers, and are 

 found all over Australia. They live in flocks of various sizes, 

 but when nesting many separate flocks congregate together in 

 one place, sometimes to the number of many thousands. The 

 nests are generally built on the broken-down rushes and bushes, 

 which form a kind of platform over the water in a swamp. The 

 clutch numbers either three or four; occasionally five or six are 

 laid, but very rarely. The eggs are white, with the shell finely 

 pitted and coarse in texture, and measure — (i) 2. 44 x i 82 ; (2) 

 2.31 X 1.74; (3) 2.60 x 1.72; (4) 2.42 X 1.74; (5) 2.51 x 1.80 inches. 

 The majority of the nests were found in April, and a few in 

 June; but the nesting of these birds depends almost entirely on 

 the rains. 



Platibis flavipes (Yellow-legged Spoonbill). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 51 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., p. 

 288, sp. 542. 



These birds build rather flat stick nests, generally high up in 

 eucalyptus trees growing in swamps, and four eggs is the full 

 clutch. The eggs are white and the shell pitted, and measure — 

 (i) 2.62 X 1.78 ; (2) 2.54 X 1.78 ; (3) 2.6d x 1.68 ; (4) 2.68 x 1.79 

 inches. One clutch only was found, and that in May. 



NoTOPHOYX PACIFICA (White-necked Heron). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. iii ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., p, 



297, sp. 547. 



These birds also generally build their stick nests in trees 

 growing in swamps, and prefer to nest in company, several nests 



