24 DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



STRAW-NECKED IBIS. 



(Geronticus spinicollis)— ^t'o?//*/'*^ Hand Bool: 

 (Carphibis spinicollis)— Ma/Z^cMis' Hand List. 



OTHER SPECIES ) ... -. , ., • , , 



WHITE Ibis (1ms molucca). 

 IN ^ 



SOUTH 4USTR\TJ\ \ ^^^(^^^^ ^^"^^ {Pl<'{/'^dis falcinellus). 



Size. — The ibis measures about 28in. from beak to tail. Its long stilt-like legs and 

 large curved bill add to its appearance, and make it quite an imposing 

 bird. 



Bill. — The bill is long and curved. It is black, with the exception of a few yellowish 

 bars that cross it transversely near the base. 



Feet and Legs. — The upper part of the leg is crimson, and the lower portion, 

 together with the feet, dirty brown. 



Plumage. — The head and upper neck of the matured bird are bare of feathers and 

 colored black. The back and sides of the neck are covered with whitish 

 down. The back and wings are of a glossy bronze green with a purple 

 sheen. The wings are crossed with several bars of black. The breast, 

 which is colored like the back, is adorned with a plume of long, tliin 

 straw-colored feathers, that depend from tlie lower neck. 



Habitat. — The favorite haunts of the ibis are shallow swamps and lagoons. They 

 may be seen feeding on the flat ground in the neighborhood of water 

 areas, especially at that time of the year when grasshoppers are numerous. 



Food. — This useful bird feeds chiefly on frogs, aquatic insects, and freshwater 

 molluscs. It is especially useful in destroying the freshwater snails, 

 in which the dreaded sheep fluke spends one phase of its existence. As 

 a destroyer of grasshoppers it has, perhaps, no equal among our birds. 

 One ibis was found to have devoured 2,410 grasshoppers, five fresh- 

 water snails, and several caterpillars in a single day.* 



Nest. — The ibis makes a nest of flags and reeds on the margin of a lagoon or other 

 freshwater area. Sometimes a few twigs are added in its construction. 

 Nesting takes place from September to December. 



Eggs. — The eggs number three to five, and are white. An average sized egg 

 measui'cs about 2iin. x Ifin. 



* These obsen-ations were taken from " Wild Life in Australia," by Mr. Dudley Le Souef. 

 CM.Z.S. 



