494 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



erect on its favourite snag of some fallen tree resting on the 

 bed of the river, or on the leafless branch of a Eucalyptus 

 bordering the stream. The shyness of its disposition renders 

 it very difficult of approach, particularly if its natural timidity 

 has been increased by the discharge of a gun in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of its haunts. Its food generally consists of 

 fish, but I once observed several individuals, on a lagoon 

 formed by the abundance of rain that had fallen a few days 

 before, busily employed in feeding upon the insects and 

 their larvae, which the united agency of the warmth and 

 moisture had brought into life ; from the muddy state of the 

 water, they had so soiled their silvery neck and breast as to be 

 scarcely recognizable. 



At Port Essington this species is said to construct its nest 

 and rear its young in the tea-trees {Melaleuccs) bordering the 

 rivers near the coast, seven or eight pairs associating for the 

 purpose in a single tree ; at this time they are exceedingly 

 pugnacious. The eggs are stated to be six in number, but 

 this requires confirmation. 



The sexes are precisely alike in colouring, and I suspect 

 that the young assume the white plumage of the under sur- 

 face from the period of their leaving the nest, as I have never 

 met with a specimen in which that part was of any other 

 colour. 



Crown of the head, abroad line down the back of the neck, 

 back, rump, and flanks deep shining steel-bluish black ; wing- 

 coverts and scapularies greyish black, each feather margined 

 with deep black ; primaries and tail black ; sides of the face, 

 throat, and all the under surface pure white ; irides greyish 

 white ; bill yellow, except the culmen, which is dark horn- 

 colour ; orbits dull reddish brown ; throat yellow ; legs and 

 feet black. 



