THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Eggs. “ Clutch four, the shell being close-grained with fine pittings, others smooth and 
lustreless. Uniform pale sea-green. Axis 45-46 mm. ; diameter 31-33.” (North.) 
Breeding-season. November (Robinson, New South Wales) ; October to January 
(North, New South Wales). 
Mr. Mattingley, in his article, says : “ Further on we observed several 
White Egrets {Herodias timoriensis) and on close inspection we discovered 
several smaller Plumed Egrets {Mesophoyx pluinifera) sitting on their bulky 
stick-nests, which are somewhat less in size than the Night-Heron’s, and 
not so frequently underwoven with gum leaves, although the Night-Herons 
also build nests similar to the Plumed Egrets when viewed from below, 
only a little larger. The Plumed Egret’s nest measures about 13 to 14 
inches in diameter, and is almost imperceptibly shallower than the Night- 
Heron’s . . . Paddling through the timber we were able to ascertain the 
extent of the heronry of White Egrets, and computed their number to be 
about 150 individuals — ^the remnant of a once large colony, which we were 
informed must have totalled originally about 700 birds, but which, owing 
to the demands for their back-plumes for the adornment of ladies’ hats, 
had been decimated by plume-hunters, and reduced to the present number 
of about 150 birds. The only method by which the hunters are able to 
obtain Egrets’ plumes in quantities is to shoot the birds on their nests, 
since at this period they are more readily approached, and allow a person 
to get within gunshot. Owing to the shyness of the Egrets when they are 
free from the cares of rearing a family, very few plumes are obtained. A 
shot by us into space albeit, sends the birds in dozens from their nests, 
and as they fly away, usually to the nearest dry tree, their snow-white 
plumage is pleasantly silhouetted against the green fohage of the surround- 
ing gum trees. How pure, how graceful they look in the sunshine as they 
alight on the dead tree-top and contemplate the intruders in the boat 
beneath them.” 
There has been some confusion regarding this Egret, and Mr. Mattingley 
has given some photos with an interesting account, in the Emu, Vol. VII., 
of a New South Wales heronry. 
On pi. V. a sitting bird on the nest is named Mesophoyx plu7nifera, but 
the very long bill suggests Herodias alba syr^natophora ; while the two photos 
given on pi. vn. — one referred to the former, the other to the latter species 
— ^are undoubtedly two photos of the same nest. From this it is apparent 
that Mr. Mattingley’s photos have become mixed, and the birds I received 
from Mr. Mattingley are referable to H. a. syrmatophora. 
While Mr. Mattingley wrote about “ their bulky stick-nests ” which 
“measured about 13 to 14 inches in diameter,” Mr. North has stated that 
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