PLATE 



XXIII. 



FAMILY CICONID^E. 



REPRESENTATIVES of this family are found in all parts of the world, but like the Cranes, they are 

 rather limited in the number of species, about twelve being all that are known, one of which only 

 falls to the share of Australia. 



The family is a migratory one, and one of them, the common European Stork, periodically performs 

 very extensive journeys, and with such exactitude that the Dutch can calculate almost to a day when a bird 

 will arrive in the spring, and when it will depart. 



GENUS XENORHYNCHUS (Bonaparte). 



THIS splendid species is supposed to be indentical with the bird of the same form inhabiting India, ami 

 enjoys a wide range of habitat. 



XENORHYNCHUS AUSTRALIS (Bonaparte.) 

 AUSTRALIAN JABIRU. Genus: Xenorhynchus. 



THIS immense bird ranges over the north, north-eastern, and eastern coast of Australia, and was found 

 about Botany Bay in the early colonising days, but civilisation is gradually beating it back to the 

 seclusion its exceedingly shy and wary disposition craves. This inclination leads it to choose the most 

 exposed pieces of ground such as sand pits, large morasses, &c, for its feeding ground and resting places, as 

 such open spots command a wide surv T ey of the surrounding land or water. 



The different explorers have fallen in with it in their explorations. Gilbert met with it on the 

 lagoons of the interior when travelling with Leichhardt, and Mr. Gregory killed a specimen in the extreme 

 western part of Australia on the Gascoygne River, which he sent to Mr. Gould informing him that " only 

 two examples of this singular bird were seen, both near Burke's Inlet. It lives in the muddy creeks, and is 

 very difficult of approach. It flies exceedingly slow, with its head, neck, and legs, which measure six feet 

 one inch, extended horizontally to their utmost length, its breadth across the wings being seven feet two 

 inches ; it weighs eleven pounds. The colour of its skin and flesh is of a rich salmon tint ; the latter has a 

 fishy flavour, too over-powerful to admit of its being eaten by anyone but a hungry explorer." 



The Jabiru is almost an omnivorous eater, feeding upon almost every form of animal life inhabiting 

 marshy situations, particularly fish and reptiles. (Gould.) 



Dr. Bennett gives a most interesting account of the Jabiru in his "Gatherings of a Naturalist." 

 from which we extract verbatim the following : — " It is very graceful, its attitude and bearing, whether in a 

 state of repose or stalking gently over a lawn or yard with its measured, noiseless steps, have a combination 

 of grace and elegance, and it displays an independence of manners well suited to a bird so wild and roaming 

 in its habits. It is gentle and good tempered, and soon gets reconciled to captivity, and seems to take 



