thai w inter, from which they did not sufl'er, though they had no shelter of any kind, and their nest was fully 

 exposed to the east wind. Out of the ninety-three young ones hatched hy them up to this present year, 18(52 

 (inclusive), about half that number have been reared. Some of them have died from disease ; but most of them 

 have been killed by the old ones dragging' them about in the fields, when they have fallen into small holes on 

 their backs, and have not been able to recover themselves. They have bred sixteen times in seven years, having 

 Laid one hundred and eleven eggs. The nest was composed of a large heap of rushes, collected by themselves, to 

 which they were continually adding during incubation. The male and female would sit alternately on the nest. 

 The male bird was found dead on February 17th, 1862. No cause could be assigned for his death, as he had been 

 in perfect health." 



The so-called black plumage is of a shabby hue, and is never really black, for each feather is largely 

 fringed with brownish grey, which gives a dingy effect ; the primaries and secondaries are pure white ; the under 

 surface of the wing coverts, and the bunch of curled feathers near the tail, are silvery grey on their under sides ; 

 bill, bright pinkish-red, crossed near the tip with a broad band of white; extremities of mandibles, white; 

 brides, scarlet; eyelashes and lores, pinky scarlet; feet, black. 



Habitats: Derby, N.W.A. ; Rockingham Bay; Port Darwin; Wide Bay District; Richmond and 

 Clarence River Districts, New South Wales ; Victoria and South Australia ; Tasmania ; West and South-West 

 Australia. 



