190 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



the abdomen were tipped with dirty-white; iris black; bill yellow, 

 tip bluish horn colour; legs and toes black; webs sooty-black. 

 Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 860;. bill, 92.5; wing, 505; tail, 

 187; tarsus, 82. 



Nest. — A low mound constructed of earth and vegetation. 



Eggs. — Clutch one; somewhat oval in shape; texture fairly 

 coarse; surface without gloss; colour dull white. Dimensions in 

 mm. : — 99 x 40. 



Breeding Season. — September to November. 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Tasmania, Australia, New 

 Zealand, and Southern Ocean in general. 



Observations. — At times the Sooty Albatross is very plentiful 

 about Bass Strait, chiefly when heavy weather is being experienced 

 in the Australian Bight or further south. 



"The cuneated form of the tail, which is peculiar to this 

 species, together with its slight and small legs and more delicate 

 structure, clearly indicate that it is the most aerial species of the 

 genus, and accordingly we find that in its actions and mode of 

 flight it differs very considerably from all the other species of the 

 Albatross, its aerial evolutions being far more easy, its flight much 

 higher, and its swoops more rapid ; it is, moreover, the only species 

 that passes directly over the ship, which it frequently does in 

 blowing weather, often poising itself over the mast-head, as if 

 inquisitively viewing the scene below; at this moment it offers so 

 inviting a mark for the gunner that it often forfeits its life ' ' 

 (Gould). 



ORDER— PLATALE/E. 



FAMILY- IBIDID/E (2 species). 



STRAW-NECKED IBIS 

 [Carpliibis spinicollis, Jameson). 



Male. — Crown of the head and fore part of the throat bare 

 and of a dull inky-black, surrounded by a ruff of white feathers ; 

 lower hind-neck dusky-black; upper back, mantle, shoulders, and 

 wings black, glossed with steel-green and purphsh, crossed with 

 dull black bars; lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts black, 

 almost destitute of gloss ; the long upper tail coverts and tail 

 feathers white ; wing coverts and quills black, outer webs glossed 

 with dull green; "centre of fore-neck white, with long straw- 

 coloured plumes on each side "; sides of neck and chest black, 

 glossed with green and purplish ; breast and abdomen white ; bill 

 dull black; legs and feet blackish-brown. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 Length, 725; bill, 204; wing, 372; tail, 135; tarsus, 83. 



Female. — Similar in plumage, but dimensions shghtly less. 



