io6 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
The food of all the Ibis tribe consists largely of 
grasshoppers and other ground-dwelling insects ; 
they are, of course, not plentiful enough to make any 
appreciable difference to the insect pests of these 
parts, and are rather to be preserved as handsome 
and interesting birds than on account of any special 
economic value. They fly slowly, and sometimes, 
when on a long journey, in circles at a great height 
in the air. 
I append three sets of field notes made at ten-year 
intervals : 
1892. 'January Z'^rd, — Large flocks near the Gut. 
End of February. — Abundant on flats near 
Willows. 
March yth, — Seen near the Gut. 
March 12th. — A solitary bird on the wing 
near Bell Post Hill. 
Jpril 2nd. — Several seen at Connewarre 
Lake. 
1902. January 2^th. — Two at Merrijig Pettavel. 
May yd. — ^Two near railway line, Little 
River Plains. 
May 2^th. — Flocks seen at Ceres by Mr. 
H. E. Hill. 
June i^th. — One near Bell Park, feeding. 
October 26th. — ^Two near south-west margin 
of Racecourse Swamp. 
November i6th. — ^Three or four near Gut. 
1912. — May 2^th. — Six noted feeding in a grass 
paddock near Cowie. 
