PLATE XXVI. 



GENUS GERONTICUS (G. R. Gray). 



rflHIS is a very beautiful and curious genus, consisting of one species that is confined in its habitat to 

 Australia. 



GEEONTICUS SPIMCOLLIS (G. R Gray). 



STRAW-NECKED IBIS. Genus Geronticus. 



A S a type of beauty among the Ibises this special example no doubt ranks high, and is certainly a 

 ^ * handsome, if somewhat peculiar, bird. It is found very generally throughout Australia, but can 

 never be depended upon in any locality, as its movements are largely governed by considerations of season. 

 Should it be a wet one, and favourable to the increase of the lower animal life upon which the Ibis lives* 

 it will assemble in immense flocks on the inland plains and such low-lying districts as the country about 

 Liverpool Plains and the coast side of the Liverpool Ranges, where are to be found shallow lagoons. 

 Here it assembles in large flocks, wading knee-deep in search of crustaceans, frogs, and insects of a watery 

 nature ; besides this, it is not independent of grasshoppers and insects of an earthy nature. But should 

 droughts supervene, the Ibis seeks more favoured localities. 



The Straw-Necked Ibis has a most stately walk and dignified manner. It perches readily on trees, 

 and when flying in large flocks over the plains the effect is very striking — for one moment a sea of white 

 breasts is seen, while in the next a revolution of position exposes dark-coloured backs and snow-white tails. 

 These birds usually describe a semicircular sweep over the plains, and when winging their way for a long- 

 flight rise high in the air, after which the entire flock arranges itself in the form of a figure or letter, 

 after the practice so often observed among ducks and geese. 



Very few of the wading birds are endowed with musical voices, and this Ibis is no exception, 

 for its note is a loud, hoarse, croaking cry. The flocks feed closely packed, and from the motion of their 

 bills and tails the whole mass seems in constant motion. The natural disposition is inclined to be shy 

 enough to make successful shooting a matter of congratulation. (Gould.) 



This Ibis breeds in companies near billabongs and lagoons in the interior. The egg is long in 

 shape, white outside and greenish inside, the surface of the shell being creased in places and minutely 

 pitted all over. Length (1), 2 inches 8 lines, (2), 2 inches 6^ lines; breadth (1), 1 inch 8^ lines, (2), 

 1 inch 9^ lines. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is smaller, and has the peculiar straw-like feathers 

 on the neck less long and stout than the male. Only the fully mature birds have the head and back of 

 the neck destitute of feathers. 



Head and forepart of the neck naked, and a dull inky-black colour; back and sides of the neck 

 covered with white down ; on the front of the neck and breast the shafts of the feathers are fine, stiff, 

 tapering processes of a straw-yellow colour ; sides and back of neck, breast, and all upper surfaces, metallic- 

 green and purple, crossed on the wing-coverts, scapularies and outer webs of the secondaries with dull 

 black bars ; abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts and tail, white ; bill, black, fritted with transverse 

 yellowish bars ; hides, dark brown ; thighs, crimson ; legs, blackish brown. 



