on Sheathbills.



Ill



their nearer relations the Humming-birds. In spite of their wide

gape and mottled plumage, the Frog-mouths of Australia should be

ranged with the Oil-bird ( Steatornis) rather than with the Night-jars

which they superficially resemble. Again, the Sheathbills of the

southern seas, though marine and predaceous, recall in external

appearance the poultry and Pigeons of more northerly regions.


Sheathbills are about the size of a small fowl, and have the

active habits of an Oyster-catcher. Their name is derived from the

curious horny sheath situated at the base of the beak, unknown in

other birds. The skin about the eyes is reddish and swollen, as if

inflamed; one species, in fact, is called the “ Sore-eyed Pigeon ” by

sailors. There are also small fleshy warts on the head, like incipient

wattles, and comparable to the nodules on the head in Turkeys. The

plumage is beautiful snowy white; three species are recognised—the

Yellow-billed ( Ghionis alba), the Black-billed ( Ghionarchus minor),

and the Crozet Island Sheathbill ( Chionarchus crozettensis).


In the Sheathbill the aviculturist has an ideal pet. Inured to

hardship almost from the egg, in its desolate island habitat, this bird

bears easily the long voyage to Europe, and all three species have

been kept alive in this country. Sheathbills have often been exhibited

at the Zoo, no less than nine of the Yellow-billed form figuring in the

collection between 1865 and 1882. They seem, indeed, to be fond of

travel on their own account; for on May 1st, 1875, Mr. John Gunn

of the German barque, “ Professor Koch,” presented to the Regent’s

Park collection a Black-billed Sheathbill which had been caught at

sea. This was a specially interesting gift, as the menagerie at that

time already contained a Yellow-billed individual, so that the two

species could be studied side by side. Still more remarkable was the

occurrence of a Yellow-billed Sheathbill in Ireland in December,

1892. The bird was killed at Carlingford Lighthouse in County

Down ; the wings and tail were nearly perfect, yet the presence of

an Antarctic bird in Ireland was so truly remarkable that its occur¬

rence is an inexplicable mystery. Perhaps it was an escape—the

lost pet of some returning sailor.


The Little Sheathbill of the Crozet Islands was long confused

with the Black-billed or “lesser” species—from which it may be

distinguished by its pink (not yellow) feet, and by the smaller beak.



