THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Young. Differs from the adult in having the feathers of the back white, tipped with 
dark brown and edged with ochreous-buff ; scapulars and innermost secondaries 
dark brown edged and barred with ochreous-buff like the inner greater wing- 
coverts ; tips of tail-feathers brown, edged with white ; head dark brown with 
ochreous-buff tips to the feathers ; forehead white, tinged with buff ; lores white, 
tipped with dark brown ; an indicated band of buff on the middle of the abdomen, 
which appears to be the remains of a younger plumage. 
Nestling, Nest and Eggs. Appear to be undescribed. 
Breeding -season. Unknown. 
Mr. Tom Carter says this species has only been observed in two seasons, near 
Point Cloates in North-west Australia. In 1898 large flocks were seen at a 
flooded white gum-flat of considerable size, about twenty-five miles inland 
from Point Cloates. This flat was again filled with water in the record wet 
year of 1900, and large numbers of these birds were again noted, but did not 
breed. A few specimens were also seen in July, 1900, at a salt-marsh 
filled with rain-water about thirty miles south of Point Cloates, and close 
to the beach. 
“It flies about 40 feet above the water and then diving goes under 
with its head and body and half-closed wings. The wings do not go under 
the water. Sometimes a sharp turn is made just before reaching the water, 
and it shoots upward rapidly into the air again. I should consider the fish 
changed its position. It feeds largely on small « sardine-like ’ fish.” * 
The stomach of those collected in the North-west of Australia by Mr. 
J. P. Rogers, contained large tadpoles and frogs. 
The type figured and described is a male, collected at Parry’s 
Creek, Wyndham, North-west Australia, by Mr. J. P. Rogers, on February 
10th, 1909. 
* Hall and Rogers, Emu, Vol. II., p. 67, 1902. 
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