WHITE-NECKED CRANE 113 
Heron may be distinguished half a mile away by 
his white head and neck, which contrast strongly 
with the dark olive-green of the general plumage of 
the body. 
It is not a resident species with us, but merely a 
casual visitor to the Lakes in dry seasons inland. 
So it comes about that the notes I have refer entirely 
to the years 1892 and 1902 ; in the former year it 
was frequently seen on Connewarre from January 
until after Easter. On August 17th, 1902, I noted 
one at Reedy Lake, one on the Racecourse Swamp on 
November i6th, and at the same place eight or nine 
on November 22nd, the last being the greatest number 
I have ever seen together. 
Except that it usually builds in small colonies, the 
breeding-habits of the White-necked Crane are 
similar to the Blue Crane's. I have heard of nests 
in the Western District (in parts of which, indeed, 
the conditions approximate to those of the Riverina 
country), but I know no case within my own experi- 
ence of this bird's breeding south of the Dividing 
Range. 
REEF HERON 
Demiegretta greyi 
I RECORD this bird because there is (or was) a specimen 
in the Melbourne Museum stated to have come from 
the Barwon River. I know of no reason why it should 
not occasionally come to this district. The species 
8 
