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XY. 



BUTOROIDES FLAVICOLLIS (Latham). 



YELLOW-NECKED MANGROVE BITTERN. Genus: Butoroides. 



THIS, the largest and handsomest of the Mangrove Bitterns, is distributed throughout the Continent, 

 except the interior, where the absence of mangrove swamps quite accounts for its non-existence, as it 

 is an exclusive companion of the mangrove. It is by no means an easy matter to dislodge the bird from 

 this safe retreat, for it runs over the mud beneath the rough roots so rapidly that capture is impossible, and 

 it must be very closely followed before it can be forced to take refuge in flight. 



Nidification evidently takes place in December, as a nest formed of small sticks resting on a slight 

 horizontal branch of a mangrove was discovered on January 6th, and two eggs taken from it. They were of 

 a much paler-bluish-green, and more rounded than those of any other species of the same group, and were 

 1-^ inch long by 1 inch 1^ broad. But it is evident that the eggs vary both in size and colour, as an 

 authenticated specimen from Queensland is white of a bluish-milky tinge ; length, 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 

 1 inch 4 lines. 



The male has all the upper surfaces bronzy -black ; primaries and tail, bluish slate-colour ; chin, warm 

 clay-white ; throat, deep buff, the feathers down the centre of the chin and throat having their inner webs 

 pale buff, and their tips blackish-brown ; elongated feathers of the breast, pale brown, margined with buff ; 

 under surfaces greyish-brown stained with buff ; hides, yellow ; bill, dark horn colour ; feet, olive brown. 



The female has the colours of the upper surface of a lighter brown than the male's, and the throat 

 feathers less brilliant and contrasting. 



Habitats : Derby (N.W.A.), Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, 



Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, G.B., Richmund and Clarence River 



Districts, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, Western and South Western Australia, South 

 Coast of New Guinea. 



BUTOROIDES J ATAXIC A (Horsp.). 



LITTLE MANGROVE BITTERN. Genus : Butoroides. 



NEXT in extent of range conies the Little Mangrove Bittern, which is found dispersed over the whole 

 of the north-eastern and eastern colonies. 



It was first noticed in great numbers at Port Essington and other tropical parts of the coast, 

 where there are small islands entirely covered by mangrove scrub, and having low swampy points of land 

 running into the sea. In these dense mangrove beds, where lingers a perpetual shade, the Javanica 

 delights to run about in search of food, which is abundantly supplied by the variety of fish, crustaceans, 

 marine worms, and insects. As soon as the tide rises and covers the muddy shores, and the mangrove 

 roots are deep in water, the Little Mangrove Bittern betakes itself to the higher branches, where it sits 

 motionless till the tide retires and leaves behind a fresh harvest. 



Usually this bird is solitary in its habits, but occasionally it will be found in flocks together. 

 Gilbert came across a colony breeding on two small islands in Coral Bay, off Port Essington harbour. 

 There were about thirty nests built, some on the mangroves, and some on the yellow hibiscus. Very frail 

 structures indeed were they, consisting of a few twigs placed across each other on the horizontal branches, and 



