302 
The Mojith's A7 rivals. 
the birds ninniiig in a circle, with winj^s poised and fluttering 
over low-curved necks. Near the coastal rivers and in the bays 
are found the Phlicans, which belong to llie same order as the 
Storks, Herons and Bitterns. The Pelican's peculiarity lies in a 
pouch depending from the lower mandible of the head, and used 
to carry a store of the fisli which the bird catches. The birds 
move in flocks, sometimes of fifty or moie. Usually twent\' or 
thirty are found together. The enormous beaks make them 
unsightly and ungainly. Like the Pigeon, the Pelican hides its 
nest well and few have been found. At sunset, when the red 
beams of lijjht make the water crimson and the sandbanks gleam 
like gold, the solemn, pouch-jawed Pelicans gather on the sand- 
banks and watch the sun go down, and their dull-grey bodies 
look quite bright. At other times they are ugly birds. 
Something between the Native Companion and the Pelican 
is the ''Jaheroo." This names is an Australian version of the 
Brazilian word "jahiru." Long-legged and long-billed, with 
the bill heavy and thick and slightly curveti at the tip, this bird 
frequents the noithern rivers. It is exceedingly shy, but can be 
tamed. Its colour is greyisii-white with black legs, bill and skin. 
The bird also occurs in tropical America and doubtless in other 
parts. — From the New Zealajid Herald. per F. HowE. 
^be flDontb's Hnivals. 
An Amicrican Consignmknt. I lecenlly received, tlirough the' 
courtesy of Mr. W. Cro.ss, a box of North American bird.s for in.specliou 
direct from the .steamer. .Since the passiii"^ of llie last Protection Act, 
praclically no birds from the States have appeared in the market, except a 
few Virgianiau Cardinals which, as one imuoiter puis it. liave been "slyed 
across." This of conise is very annoying tons avicnltni ists and moreover 
it is unnecessary because the causes of the diminiUion of American birds 
are, firstly, tlie Yankee custom of shooting everything that flies for the pot 
and, secondly, the introduction of the luiglish Sparrow. There were nine 
Ijirds in this consignment, representing five difi"eient species. Tht-se weie: 
Two vSnovv Huntings (A", nivalis). The Snow Hunting ranges across 
the whole of the Aiclic regions aii<l tlieiefore these birds weie of the same 
species as our own, nevertheless I was much interested in noting tliat tliey 
showed iiinch more while in the plumage than ours and were more heavily 
striated on the rump. 
