BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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Eggs, .—Three to five, pale sea-green, the surface being either smooth 
or finely pitted, and lustreless. Breeding-season: October to December 
or January. 
18. Egret Egretta alba Linne 
al'-ba — L., albus , white. 
Distribution . — Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in 
southern Europe, Africa, central and southern Asia, Malaysia to the 
Philippine Islands, New Guinea, and New Zealand. 
Notes . — Also called Great Egret and White Crane. Observed singly, 
in pairs, or in flocks, frequenting swamps or the margins of lakes and 
streams. It is nomadic, and when not breeding is generally seen scattered 
over the shallow waters of lakes and swamps, silently wading in quest of 
prey. Food: fish, frogs, and aquatic insects. An adult in non-breeding 
plumage does not possess the plumes on the back or the ornamental 
feathers on the fore-neck. 
Nest. — A platform composed of sticks; placed in the branches of a 
tree growing in or near water. Breeds in colonies, often in association 
with other wading birds. 
Eggs . — Three to five, bluish-green, the surface being minutely pitted. 
Breeding-season: November to January. 
19. White-faced Heron Notophoyx novce-hollandice Latham 
Not-o-pho-yx — Gk, notos , south; Gk, phoyx, heron: novce-hollandice — of 
New Holland. 
Distribution. — Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in the 
Celebes, Molucca Islands, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Lord Howe 
Island, and New Zealand. 
Notes. — Also called White-fronted Heron and Blue Crane. Observed 
singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, frequenting swamps, the margins of 
lakes and streams, mud-flats, and mangroves. It is generally seen either 
wading in shallow water or perched on a dead limb of a tree near water. 
When disturbed, it utters a loud croaking note, rises slowly with a laboured 
flight, then wends it way to safety. Food: yabbies, freshwater snails, 
frogs, and insects of various kinds. 
Nest. — A rather scanty platform, composed of sticks, placed in the 
branches of a tree growing in or near water. Breeds singly or in colonies. 
Eggs. — Three to six, pale bluish-green, the surface being smooth and 
lustreless. Breeding-season: September to January. 
20. White-necked Heron Notophoyx pacifica Latham 
pac-if-ic-a — pad ficus , of the Pacific Ocean. 
Distribution . — Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
Notes. — Also called Pacific Heron and White-necked Crane. 
Observed singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, frequenting swamps or the 
