CHANNEL-BILL. 301 



considerable above ; the tongue is pointed, near three-fourths of the 

 length of the bill ; irides hazel, and the pupil uncommonly clear ; 

 the head, neck, and under parts of the body are ash coloured grey ; 

 back and wings bluish ash-colour, each feather tipped with black ; 

 quills darker, but grow paler within, near the base ; the first quill is 

 shorter than the second, by near four inches, and the second full one 

 inch shorter than the third, which is the longest of all, and the wings, 

 when closed, reach full three-fourths on the tail — this is cuneiform, 

 deep ash-colour; the two middle feathers eleven inches long, the 

 outer less than eight; near the ends of all a bar of black, which takes 

 up most space in the middle ones, the tips of all for about one inch 

 white ; the margins of the inner webs from the middle to the base, in 

 all but the two middle feathers, are barred black and white ; thighs 

 and vent barred the same, but paler ; legs short, from heel to the 

 toe joint two inches ; toes of the same length, and placed two before 

 and two behind as in the Toucan ; colour bluish black. The distinc- 

 tion of sexes not ascertained. 



This bird inhabits New-Holland, and there called Goe re a gang, 

 but is not very common. It first appears about Port Jackson, in 

 October, chiefly seen in the morning and evening, sometimes seven 

 or eight are together, but more often in pairs ; both on the wing, 

 and when perched, they make a loud, screaming noise, like that of 

 a Cock and Hen, when a Hawk, or other bird of prey, is in sight. — 

 Probably only come to this part of New Holland to breed, for they 

 depart elsewhere in January ; but their winter residence is by no 

 means certain. In the crop and the gizzard the seeds of the red gum, 

 and. peppermint trees, have been found, and which is believed to be 

 their principal food ; they are supposed to swallow them whole, as 

 the pericarpium or capsule has been found in the stomach : exuviae of 

 beetles have also been seen, but not in quantity. The tail, which is 

 nearly the length of the body, is sometimes displayed like a fan, and 

 gives the bird in flight, or when sitting, a majestic appearance. The 

 natives know very little of its habits or haunts; however, they con- 



