THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
would now urge that osteological specimens be procured and studied as this 
bird is becoming scarce and it seems necessary to have some details about its 
anatomy at first hand. 
I have no field notes concerning the Eastern form, though Mr. J. W. 
Mellor has written me : “ They are to be found in the northern parts of South 
Australia, but I have never seen them in the southern parts.” 
Its range appears to be now very restricted, as Captain S. A. White does 
not record it upon his many expeditions into the central districts, and north 
its place appears to be taken by the “ sanguined ” bird, whether this be 
generically, specifically or only sub specifically separable. 
Under the name Licmetis nasica in the Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, 
Vol. III., North has some interesting notes on the habits of this species. 
Thus K. H. Bennett had written : “ Licmetis nasica is only to be met with in 
the vicinity of permanent water, and is never, so far as my observations 
extend, found in the dry back country. I have met with it frequently along 
the course of the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee Rivers, and I have seen immense 
flocks feeding on the plains a few miles distant from the latter river. On 
the approach of evening they leave their feeding ground and take up their 
quarters for the night in the thick fringe of heavy timber along the river, 
presenting a most animated and interesting scene. Hundreds of the birds 
dash here and there with rapid flight through the trees, their white plumage 
contrasting strongly with the heavy dark green fringe of the towering 
Eucalyptus, and thrown into stronger relief by the rays of the setting sun. In 
some of the trees the birds might be observed clinging in all kinds of attitudes, 
or jumping nimbly from branch to branch, whilst in other places numbers 
were clinging head downwards at the extreme ends of the branches, the 
whole flock meanwhile keeping up an incessant and almost deafening noise.” 
Mr. G. A. Heartland’s notes read : “ Licmetis nasica lives almost exclusively 
on a small yam which it digs up with its long bill. Of course such a vast 
amount of digging must wear the upper mandible very rapidly, but this is 
compensated for by the rapidity of its growth. An old pet bird tried to lever 
a brick out of a drain with its bill, and split the upper portion from near the 
point to the base. I mended the break, and in three weeks the split portion 
had grown down to the point, and before the end of the following week no 
trace of the injury was visible. It is remarkable that when portions of 
Riverina near the Murrumbidgee River were used as cattle stations these birds 
bred there in hundreds, but during the past thirty-five years the cattle have 
been replaced by sheep, and the Longbilled Cockatoos have deserted the 
vicinity so completely that a youth from that district could not be persuaded 
that the Corellas had ever been found there.” 
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