128 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Jabiru (Black-necked Stork). 



Xenorhynchus asiaticus. 



India, Burmah, Malay Peninsula, New Guinea to North Australia. 



Above white from the hind-neck to the upper tail-eoverts; the lesser 

 wing-coverts white, forming a large wing-patch; the rest of the wing 

 mostly black, glossed with metallic green and purple, the tail being the 

 same; head and neck metallic bluish green, with patch of purplish bronze 

 on the nape; under surface white. Total length 48 inches, culmen 12, 

 wing 22.5, tail 8.5, tarsus 12. 



Nest, a bulky structure made of sticks and lined with softer 

 material; it usually builds on trees growing in swamps. Four 

 eggs form a full clutch ; they are white, and the surface pitted ; 

 they measure about 2.90 x 2.10 inch. 



These birds are not plentiful in Australia. 



Sxii-order Ardem. Herons and Bitterns. 

 Nostrils holorhinal. 



Family Ardeidce. 

 Hind toe large, resting on the ground like the others, and 

 furnished with a big nail. Middle claw with crust-like edge 

 on its inner margin. Bill notched. Wings large, flight slow. 

 Lores and eye bare. Tail short. 



Genus Ardea. 

 Edges of mandibles distinctly serrated. Head crested, nape 

 feathers form long ornamental plumes. No dorsal train. 



The Great-billed Heron. 



Ardea sumatrana. 



Northern Australia, Celebes, Sunda, Malay Peninsula, Araean, and 

 Tenasserim. 



Above dull grey, the lower back paler; the scapulars have elongated 

 plumes, white at the ends; tail dark slate, slightly glossed with green; 

 crown of head crested; upper throat white; neck slaty brown, and 

 feathers elongated; under surface grey, with white centres to the feathers. 

 Total length 45 inches, culmen 6.8, wing 18.3, tail 6.1, tarsus 6.7. 



Nest made of sticks and lined with softer material, and 

 usually built in trees growing in a swamp. The eggs are pale- 

 bluish green and measure about 2.70 x 1.9 inch. 



These birds are not numerous, and appear to be solitary in 

 their habits. 



