THRESKIORNIS STRICTIPENNIS. 
Wliite Ibis. 
Ihis strictipennis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 106 . 
Yam-bult-huU, Aborigines of Port Essington. 
Black -necJced Ihis, Colonists of Port Essington. 
White Ibis of the Colonists of New South Wales. 
The same cause that induced the Straw-necked Ibis {Geronticus spinicollis') to visit New South Wales in such 
abundance during the year 1839 acted equally on the present bird, which was not only observed at the 
same period, but the two species were frequently seen in company ; one marked difference, however, was 
noticed, namely, that while the Geronticus spinicollis visited equally the lagoons and the plains, the Threskiornis 
strictipennis confined itself solely to the wet hollows of flats, the hanks of rivers, lagoons, &c., wading 
knee-deep among the rushes and green herbage in search of frogs, newts and insects, upon which it feeds ; 
when satiated it mounted upon the bare branches of the large gum-trees bordering the feeding-place, and 
then became so watchful that it could not be approached within gun-shot without the utmost caution. The 
natives as well as the colonists assured me that it was seldom so abundant as at the period of my visit, 
and I believe that many seasons sometimes elapse without its appearing there at all. I encountered this 
bird either in pairs or in small flocks of from five to twenty in number, but it was never a hundredth part so 
plentiful as the Geronticus spinicollis. Like that bird it must retire to some unknown part of Australia, 
doubtless towards the interior, a single skin from the north coast being all that I have ever seen from any 
other part of the country. 
The Threskiornis strictipennis may at all times be distinguished from its near ally T. /Etliiopica, inhabiting 
the banks of the Nile, as well as from the T. melanocephala, by the lengthened plumes which hang down 
from the front of the neck, and from which its specific appellation has been taken. 
Dissection is necessary to distinguish the sexes, as they vary little, if at all, in size or colouring. 
Head and upper half of the neck bare, and with the bill of a deep slaty black ; hack of the head and 
neck crossed by ten narrow distinct bands of rose-pink, and on the crown of the head a series of oval spots, 
arranged in the form of a star, of the same colour ; the whole of the body and wings white, tinged with 
buff; the feathers on the fore-part of the neck long, narrow, lanceolate and stiff; primaries tipped with 
deep bluish green ; webs of the tertiaries extremely prolonged and recurved, and of a deep blue-black 
mingled with white ; thighs and knees deep purple ; tarsi and feet light purple; irides dark brown. 
The Plate represents two birds rather less than two-thirds of the natural size. 
