92



Mr. Alfred J. North,



of which are noted chiefly for their fish-destroying proclivities, on

which diet they almost, if they do not entirely, subsist. An instance

of the voracity of the Black Cormorant ( Plialacrocorax carbo ) may

be seen in the Australian Museum, where one of these birds is set

up as captured by a water spaniel on the Murrumbidgee River, with

a partially swallowed Murray cod ( Oligorus mctcquariensis) , weighing

over a quarter of the bird’s weight, protruding from its throat.

Much damage is done to the fishing industry b}f this and allied

species, both in the inlets and large estuarine areas of the coast, as

well as on the inland rivers and lakes. The Gannet (Sula serrator )

may be seen flying some distance from the coast, dropping like a

stone, ever and anon, into the sea, in order to secure its finny prey ;

occasionally it ventures into Port Jackson. The Australian Pelican

(Pelecanus conspicillatus) frequents the islands, rocks awash, and the

sand-spits of the bays and inlets of the coast, and the large inland

lakes of the Western District, where it breeds ; it also breeds on

Cook Island, near the mouth of the Tweed River.


The Order Platalece is numerically one of the smallest in

Australia, but it contains some of its most important birds. The

Straw-necked Ibis ( Carphibis spinicollis) , the White Ibis ( Ibis

mollucca ) and the Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis fcilcinellus) occur in

thousands, and among other food, especially the former, are remark¬

ably fond of locusts and grasshoppers, etc., and they do an immense

amount of good in ridding the grass-lands of the pastoralist of

myriads of injurious insects and their larvte. The Straw-necked

and the White Ibis breed in large colonies in reed-beds, cane-grass,

and low bushes in flooded country, often together, and among them

is sometimes found a solitary nest of the Royal or Black-billed

Spoonbill ( Platcdea regia), or the Yellow-legged Spoonbill ( Platibis

flavipes), the only other species of the Order occurring in New South

Wales, also in Australia, constructing their nests, like the rarer

Glossy Ibis, on the branches of trees, usually in flooded country.


Among the most important members of the Order Herodiones

in New South Wales, are the Large White Egret ( Herodias timo-

riensis) and the Plumed Egret ( Mesophoyx plumifera). Although

these birds are absolutely protected by law throughout the year, they

are much sought after in the breeding season for their beautiful



