YELLOW-BILLED SPOONBILL. 
▼ 
As the bird advances in age the primary- and secondary-quills become pure 
white, and the three innermost secondaries begin to disintegrate on the black 
portion of the outer webs. The ornamental plumes on the fore-neck also 
develop at the same time. 
Nest. “ Large structures of sticks, loosely interlaced, with a considerable depression 
lined with the soft fibre of decayed bark ” (Bennett). 
Eggs. Clutch, three to four ; slightly glossy-white but nest-stained ; axis 68 mm., 
diameter 45. 
Breeding-season. September to January ; September (Savage, New South Wales) ; 
October (Bennett, New South Wales) ; October (Campbell, Victoria) ; November 
(North, New South Wales) ; January (Bennett, New South Wales). 
Mr. J. P. Rogers reports that this is the common Spoonbill in Kimberley, 
North-west Australia. 
Mr. Tom Carter sends me this note : “ On the 8th September, 1911; 
at the Minilya River, I shot a pair of these fine birds. They were feeding in 
company with Geronticus spinicoUis at a large shallow fresh-water pool. 
I noticed that when the birds were viewed, flying, at a certain angle, their 
beaks seemed to curve downwards like that of the Ibis, and upon first 
seeing them I took them to be White Ibis.” 
Captain S. A. Wliite says : “ This is a very widely distributed bird, 
and is to be met with from two to small companies of ten or a dozen 
on coastal waters. It is a very wary bird and hard to approach, for when 
it is not feeding it perches on the top of some dead tree, from which it 
can get a good view of the country round. They feed on shallow lakes 
or swamps, where they can wade amongst the aquatic vegetation, etc. 
When alive a delicate pink tinge pervades the under part of the feathers, 
predominating under the wings, where it shades into bluish-pink.” 
“ An irregular visitor that may be expected to put in an appearance 
in small parties, up to thirty individuals, at any season of the year. 
They feed day and night. I have watched them on a moonlight night 
at very close quarters.”* 
“ On the 26th November, 1889 [on Yandembah, Lochlan District], I 
had numerous opportunities of observing the old Spoonbfils feeding their 
young. It is done in the reverse way to the generality of birds. 
Instead of the old one putting her biU into the opened one of the young 
bird, the latter thrusts its bill between that of the parent, who pumps 
the food into the young one’s mouth. The bill of the young bird is very 
much bent at the top, possibly to facilitate feeding in this extraordinary 
way.”t 
* Berney, Emu, Vol. VI., p. 115, 1907. 
t Bennett, Auatr. Mus. Sp. Cat., no. 1, Vol. IV., p. 17, 1913. 
VOL. m. 
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