WHITE IBIS. 
built, appears to be the signal for a unanimous ‘ caw,’ which sounded badly 
enough, but which seemed either very solemn or very ridiculous, according 
to the temperament of the onlooker. Previous to my finding them they 
had broken down the reeds and had woven them to form a long platform or 
terrace about sixteen feet long, with irregular arms branching for two or three 
feet on each side, at a height of about a foot above water level. This terrace 
was nowhere more than about eighteen inches wide on its surface. 
“ One bird (I could not distinguish between male and female) appeared 
to have the superintendence of the whole array of nests on his shoulders. He 
(I take it to be a male) marched about from one to the other of the nests which 
were in progress of building, apparently giving orders. The females were 
busy biting off the reeds into lengths of about nine inches, which they laid 
with great ceremony in criss-cross fashion at the extremity of the above- 
mentioned arms. A few of these, just sufficient to keep the eggs from rolling 
into the water, constitute the nest. 
“ On going to the place some few weeks after, I found that sixteen nests 
had been made on this platform, and each contained three eggs. Other 
nests which I found and examined on the same day were abandoned by the 
birds. In no case have I known them to utilise a nest which I had pre- 
viously robbed or handled. A peculiar foetid smeU pervades the atmosphere 
in the vicinity of their nests.”* 
“ On arriving at our destination [Ulmarra, Clarence River] it was a grand 
sight, for the White Ibis were breeding here in scores, but not aU together, 
a small colony here of from twenty to forty nests, and a little further 
away, forty or fifty yards perhaps, another colony, and many of these colonies 
existed. The rushes and reeds were high over our heads, but we had no 
difficulty in going from one colony to another, as the birds were continually 
dropping down with food, etc. ; some of the nests contained eggs, and others 
young ; (in September) four eggs were the most any nest contained, but wore 
seldom seen, the usual number for a sitting being three. The nests are placed 
on top of the rushes, which are broken down into a platform, and are used 
as a foundation. Upon this is placed aU kinds of aquatic herbage and plants, 
and some had gum stems and leaves for a lining. Some nests are quite close 
together, and built side by side, about a foot or eighteen inches above water, 
the nests containing eggs and young birds in all stages. The young on^ 
make off as soon as they see you.”t 
The bird figured and described is a male (the type of Ihis molucca 
alligator), and was collected on the South Alligator River, Northern Territory, 
November 10th, 1902. 
* Swan, Avstr. Miis. Sp. Oat., no. 1, Vol. IV., p. 3, 1913. 
t Savidge, ib. 
383 
