BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
237 
Eggs.—Thxtt to five, pale sea-green, the surface being either smooth 
or finely pitted, and lustreless. Breeding-season: October to December 
or January. 
18. Egret Egretta alba Linne 
al f -ba —L., albtis, white. 
Distribution .—Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in 
southern Europe, Africa, central and southern Asia, Malaysia to the 
Philippine Islands, New Guinea, and New Zealand. 
Notes. -Also called Great Egret and White Crane. Observed singly, 
in pairs, or in flocks, frequenting swamps or the margins of lakes and 
streams. It is nomadic, and when not breeding is generally seen scattered 
over the shallow waters of lakes and swamps, silently wading in quest of 
prey Food, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects. An adult in non-breedin° r 
plumage does not possess the plumes on the back or the ornamental 
feathers on the fore-neck. 
Nest.— A_ platform composed of sticks; placed in the branches of a 
tree growing in or near water. Breeds in colonies, often in association 
with other wading birds. 
Eggs.- Three to five, bluish-green, the surface being minutely pitted. 
Breeding-season: November to January. ^ 
19. White-faced Heron Notophoyx novce-hollandice Latham 
Not-o-pho-yx- Gk, notos, south; Gk, phoyx, heron: novce-hollandice —of 
New Holland. 
Distribution. Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in the 
Celebes, Molucca Islands, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Lord Howe 
Island, and New Zealand. 
Notes. Also called White-fronted Heron and Blue Crane. Observed 
singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, frequenting swamps, the margins of 
lakes and streams, mud-flats, and mangroves. It is generally seen either 
wadmg ,n shallow water or perched on a dead limb of a tree near water. 
If < J sturbed ' lt utters a loud croaking note, rises slowly with a laboured 
Jght, then wends it way to safety. Food: yabbies, freshwater snails, 
nogs, and insects of various kinds. 
hranil!!!^T A / ather S( ; ant y Inform, composed of sticks, placed in the 
branches of a tree growing m or near water. 
liKtrMfff~n hrC 4 - t0 S ' X ’ paIe bluish "fl reen > the surface being smooth and 
lustreless. Breeding-season: September to January. 
20. White-necked Heron Notophoyx pacifica Latham 
pac-if-ic-a — -pacificus, of the Pacific Ocean. 
Distribution. —Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
nu o N0te A S '~ A } S0 - Cal ! ed Pacific Heron and White-necked Crane, 
ene singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, frequenting swamps or the 
