304 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 551. HERODIAS MELANOPUS. 



Spotless Egret. 



Ardea melanopus, Wagl. Isis., 1829, p. 660. 



Garzetta immaculata, Bonap. Compt. Rend, de I'Acad. Sci., torn. xl. 

 seance du 2 Avril 1855. 



Yab-be-ruk, Aborigines of Port Essington. 

 White Crane of the Colonists. 



Herodias immaculata, Grould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. vi. pi. 58. 



This Spotless Egret is a native of the northern portion of 

 Australia, and is extremely abundant in almost all parts of 

 the Coburg Peninsula, both on the open sea-beach and in 

 the secluded parts of the harbour ; it also occurs in all the 

 neighbouring swamps and lakes. " On one occasion," says 

 Gilbert, " while lying at anchor in Van Diemen's Gulf, about 

 half a mile from an isolated rock, covered with a stunted 

 plant growing from the crevices, I saw these birds repairing 

 thither for the purpose of roosting in such numbers, that in a 

 very short time the dark-coloured rock assumed an appear- 

 ance of snowy whiteness, resembling in the distance, and 

 particularly by moonlight, a pile of snow ; at the same time 

 I observed them in different parts of the harbour congregated 

 in flocks, and when seen perched upon the branches over- 

 hanging the water, they greatly resembled a flock of Cocka- 

 toos ; but although they are met with in such numbers, it is 

 by no means easy to procure specimens, for a more shy and 

 wary bird is scarcely to be found." 



The sexes are alike externally, and both are adorned with 

 the long flowing plumes during summer. 



The entire plumage of a pure and snowy whiteness ; irides 

 yellow ; upper mandible, half the lower mandible, and apical 

 dark purplish black ; base of the latter dull yellowish grey; cere 

 and orbits saffron-yellow ; legs blackish grey ; inner side and 

 back of the tarsi, and the under surface of the feet siskin-green. 



