BLUE CRANE 
III 
WHITE-FRONTED HERON OR BLUE 
CRANE 
Notophoyx novce-hollandice 
Here, at least, is a species which shows no signs of 
approaching extinction, but is relatively abundant in 
every part of the district, excepting, perhaps, the 
thicker recesses of the forest. There can be hardly 
any one who does not know this bird ; yet when he is 
standing among vegetation in a swamp he may easily 
escape notice, for so well does his soft bluish-grey 
plumage harmonise with his surroundings, that it is 
only the patch of pure white on his face which betrays 
his presence. As one approaches too close, he rises 
with a harsh Gurh ! " and flies away on slowly 
beating wings. 
At most times of the year his favourite resort is 
estuarine mud-flats, such as lie along the Lower Barwon 
near the Heads ; here he will stalk, with slow, deliberate 
tread, the livelong day, picking up with sharp beak 
his favourite food of crabs and other small creatures 
of the ooze. Sometimes flocks of Blue Cranes fre- 
quent the reefs which low-tide exposes along the 
ocean beach. From the Upper Breakwater to the 
Lake it would be hard to go a mile without seeing a 
Crane perched high on some riverside gum tree. On 
the shores of Corio Bay, and the several smaller bights 
opening from it, the bird is equally at home. 
In the autumn it is the wont of this, as of so many 
other species, to congregate into flocks. 
