Birds of Melville Island. 105 



44. Austrotis australis derbyi. Northern Bustard. 

 Choriotis australis derbyi Mathews^ Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 



1912, p. 226 : Derby, North-west Australia. 



Very rare on the Island, although about ten miles east of 

 Gordon Point, Apsley Straits, many were seen, but they are 

 very wild. They were on a large, sandy, and stony plain 

 which was covered with low bush and had just been burnt — 

 in fact, three of the birds were shot at the fire when they 

 were keeping just ahead of the flames catching grasshoppers 

 as they rose. 



45. Mathewsia rubicunda argentea. Silver Crane. 



Matheiijsia rubicunda argentea Mathews, Nov. Zool. 

 vol. xviii. 1912, p. 227 : Fitzroy River, North-west Australia. 

 Rare. 



46. Threskiornis molucca strictipennis. White Ibis. 



Ibis strictipennis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr. pt. iv. App. 

 1838, p. 7 : New South Wales. 



Only two or three birds were seen in three months, and 

 these were very wild ; none were found in the great swamp. 

 They feed among the mangroves on crabs and shell-fish. 



47. Spatherodia regia. Black-billed Spoonbill. 

 Platalea regia Gould^ Synops. Birds Austr. pt. iv. App. 



1838, p. 7 : New South Wales. 



Seen in small flocks and always flying high. 



48. Xenorhynchns asiaticus australis. Black-necked Stork. 

 Mycteria australis Shaw, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. vol. v. 



1800, p. 33: New South Wales. 

 Rare. 



49. Typhon suniatrana mathewsae. Great-billed Heron. 

 Ardea sumatrana matheivsae Mathews, Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 



1912, p. 230 : Cooktown, North Queensland. 



Two seen in three months. They fed in an open patch in 

 the mangroves, and when disturbed flew into a tree near by. 

 None were seen after the 7th of December. 



