72 



cassell's book of birds. 



with, and is comparatively common in the vicinity of Botany Bay. Macgillivray and Gilbert also 

 found it at Port Essington. The Jabiru frequents the vicinity of salt-water creeks, and obtains its 

 food principally from the necks of land running out into the sea, or on sandbanks and morasses. It 

 is very difficult of approach, and if pursued, hides amongst the dense reeds in the lagoons ; the natives, 

 we are told, steal upon it when reposing, as it frequently does, upon the tarsi, the bird taking some 



the Senegal jabiru (Afycteria Senegalcnsis). one-sixth natural size. 



time to rise from that position. In 1851, Dr. Bennett purchased a fine living specimen, which was 

 brought to Sydney from Port Macquarie, and we have to thank that careful observer for the following 

 interesting particulars respecting this remarkable and otherwise almost unknown species. 



" The first evening it was at my house," says the above naturalist, " it walked into the hall, gazed 

 at the gas-lamp which had just been lighted, and then proceeded to walk upstairs, seeking for a roosting- 

 place ; but not liking the ascent, quietly came down again, returning into the yard, and afterwards 

 went to roost in the coach-house between the carriages, where it now retires regularly every evening 



