234 
THE BTRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Notes . — Also called Black Curlew. Usually in pairs or flocks, fre- 
quenting swamps, margins of lakes and streams, and adjoining grass- 
lands. It is a very useful bird and is generally fearless, often visiting 
farms to follow the plough. Food: insects and their larvae. 
Nest . — A platform composed of sticks, lined with reeds and other 
aquatic plants; generally placed in an upright forked branch of a tree. 
Some nests are composed entirely of leafy branches, without extra lining, 
and are rather deep structures. Breeds in the most inaccessible parts of 
large swamps or watercourses. 
Eggs . — Three or four, deep greenish-blue, the surface being slightly 
rough and lustreless. Breeding-season: September to December. 
11. White Ibis Threskiornis molucca Cuvier 
Thresk-i-orri-is — Gk, threskos, sacred ; Gk, ornis, bird : molucca — of the 
Molucca Islands. 
Distribution . — Australia (except Western Australia, south of North 
West Cape) ; also occurs in the Molucca Islands to New Guinea; accidental 
to New Zealand. 
Notes . — Also called Black-necked Ibis and Sickle-bird. Usually in 
flocks, frequenting swamps or the margins of streams and lakes which 
adjoin grass-lands. It is a very useful bird, and destroys countless 
numbers of injurious insects and their larvae. Generally it prefers secluded 
situations where it can search for food or build its nest and breed un- 
disturbed. In many districts, however, it has become quite tame, and is 
common in paddocks and cultivated areas. 
Nest . — A platform, made by bending down polygonum, reeds, and 
other aquatic herbage. Breeds in colonies, which are generally situated 
in the centre of a swamp; it is often in the company of the Straw-necked 
Ibis. 
Eggs . — Two to five, dull white and lustreless. Breeding-season: 
September to December. 
12. Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Jameson 
spl-ni-colt-is — L., spina, thorn; L., collum, neck. 
Distribution . — Australia generally; accidental to Tasmania. 
Notes . — Also called Farmer’s Friend, Dry weather-bird, and Letter- 
bird. Usually in flocks, frequenting swamps, the margins of streams and 
lakes, or pastoral lands. It is one of the most useful birds we have in 
Australia ; fortunately it is common, and generally receives the protection 
it deserves. Being chiefly nomadic in habits it travels over a vast area 
of country. One sees it dotted over pastoral lands, intent on the capture 
of injurious insects or their larvae, or following in the wake of a plough, 
feeding on the insects thus disturbed. 
Nest .— Similar in construction and material to that of the White- 
necked Ibis. Breeds in colonies generally numbering thousands of birds. 
