180 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



it is to approach within gunshot range, and the strategy 

 required to outwit it. Generally a pair only associate ; at 

 other times six to eight birds, or even as many as 'fifty are 

 said to have been seen in a flock in the winter. The food 

 of the bird is insects, ground fruits, and sundry forms. 



JSfest. — Simply the bare ground in lightly timbered 

 country. 



Eggs. — Two to a clutch. They are subject to much 

 variation in the ground colour between a light stone and a 

 dark one, both having brown spots and irregular blotches 

 upon them to a greater or less degree. Length, 2*2 inches ; 

 breadth, 1-6 inches. 



WHITE-FRONTED HERON 



(Blue Crane), 



Notophoyx novae-hoUandije, Latb. 



Nb-td-foix no-ve-hol'an-di-e. 



Noton, the back ; ^^/ioa-os, tapering to a point ; novcfi-liollandice, 



of New Holland. 



Ardea nov.e-hollandi.*:, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. 

 vi. , pi. 53. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1 to 9 inclusive. 



Key to the Species.— General appearance slaty-grey; forehead, 

 eyebrow, and throat white ; dorsal plumes grey ; sides of chest 

 vinaceous ; breast plumes lanceolate ; a full crest ; tarsus not 

 twice the length of outer toe and claw ; middle claw pec- 

 tinated. 



Herons, Bitterns, and Ibis are a useful working medium 

 in all swampy country, but the best of all without any 

 doubt are the former, and standing at their head for 

 usefulness is the White-fronted Heron. When this species 



