GRALLATORES. 289 



The food suitable to one species was equally so to the other, 

 all devouring with equal avidity the thousands of aquatic in- 

 sects, small-shelled mollusks, &c., which the rains had appa- 

 rently called into being. 



I particularly mention its occurrence at this period, as I had 

 not observed a single example during a previous visit to the 

 same districts, when the whole face of the country presented 

 as sad a spectacle of sterility as could well be imagined. 



Over what extent of Australia this interesting bird will be 

 found to range it is impossible to conjecture ; as yet 1 have 

 never received a specimen from any other part than New South 

 Wales. In disposition I found it shy and distrustful, and 

 it was not without a considerable degree of caution and ma- 

 noeuvring that I could ever approach sufficiently near to make 

 successful shots. I occasionally met with it singly, but 

 more frequently in pairs or in small companies of from six to 

 eight. When not occupied in procuring food, which it does 

 while skirting the edge of the lagoon, or by wading knee- 

 deep among the grasses and rushes, it may be seen repo- 

 sing on the dead branches of the highest trees growing near 

 the water, frequently standing on one leg, with the head 

 drawn back and the bill resting on the breast ; when thus 

 situated an approach sufficiently near to procure specimens is 

 almost impossible. 



The sexes exhibit no external differences and are only to be 

 distinguished by dissection ; the female is, however, rather 

 smaller than the male. 



The whole of the plumage is pure white, with the exception 

 of the outer webs of the tertiaries, which are black ; face white, 

 entirely devoid of feathers, and bounded posteriorly by a nar- 

 row line of black : bill primrose-yellow, passing into fleshy 

 pink at the base ; irides straw-white ; legs and feet yellow ; 

 nails black. 



Total length 28 inches ; bill 7i ; wing 1 4 J ; tail 5^ ; 

 tarsi 4f . 



VOL. II. u 



