90 Order Ardeiformes, Family Pleyadiflie, Genus C'lrphibls. 



Order Ardeiformes, Family Plegadidae, 

 Genus Carphibis. 



('arphihi.H spiiiicoUis (Straw-necked Ibis). 



Description — Upper Surface. — Dark brown to black, with 

 a decided bronze tinge ; shading from green to purple, the fea- 

 thers being barred with deep black ; upper tail coverts edged 

 with green; tail, white; in the old males short, white leathers 

 cover much of the neck with metallic green feathers on the top ; 

 strange straw-like appendages under the neck, resembling fea- 

 ther shafts, under which is a dark, metallic band ; the remain- 

 idier of the under surface, white; bare skin of the head, black; 

 small bare space under the eye, pink ; feet, ruddy brown to 

 pink; bill, black; iris, brown. 



Measurements. — Total length, 842 m.m. ; wing, 384 m.m. ; 

 tarsus, 90 m.m; bill. 192 m.m. 



Distribution — Over the whole of Australia and many of 

 the Islands ofif the coast, including Tasmania. 



Habits — Gregarious, moving about in parties of a dozen to 

 several hundreds, spread over the plains, swamps and grass- 

 lands during the day time, but generally make for timber to 

 roost at night. A large party will arrive at the roosting place 

 (large gum trees for preference) in the dusk; circle round once 

 or twice to make sure all is safe, then settle on the branches 

 high up; a few hoarise croaks, and they are perfectly quie<t. 

 While walking over the plains they travel fairly fas't, but no- 

 thing escapes their quick eyes; they turn over manure, sticks, 

 and bark with their bills, and thrust them into the cracks of the 

 soil in search of crickets. They shift about according to the 

 seasons. If protected, become very confiding, but if molested 

 are wary birds. 



Nesit — If plaiced in: a tree or shrub near w<ater, it gen.erally 

 consists of sticks, of a flattened shape ; if in the rushes, flags 

 and reeds, these are bent down to form a ]tlatt'<)rni. and very 

 ofteu a littQe drift wo'od is add'edl. As a rule the nest's are 

 bniltl in large colonieis. 



Eggs — TQiree to five in number, duH white; nearly always 

 much stained, green s'h'ade inside -she'll; mjeaisures 60 to 69 

 m.m.: 42 to 40 m.m.; laid from September to November. 



