Vol. XXIV. 
1925 
HOGAN, Birds of Willis Island 
275 
ters. It flew off on being- liberated and was not seen about the 
island again. 
(19) BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Gruucaltis novcc- 
liollandicc ). 
On the evening of March 31st, 1923, a Cuckoo-Shrike was ob¬ 
served on a stay of a mast. After resting for half an hour or 
so, it flew off, and was not seen again. 
(20) NATIVE COMPANION {Meyalornis rubicunda). 
On the morning of April lltli, 1923, I observed at a distance 
of about 100 yards a Native Companion standing on the beach 
at the northern end of the island. On being approached it rose 
and flew along the beach and alighted farther down the island. 
It flew off again on being approached, and was lost to view. 
(19) DOLLAR-BIRD (Euryslomus orientalis). 
On March 4th, 1924, my attention was drawn to a Dollar- 
Bird, owing to the number of Noddy Terns which chased it 
whenever it left its perch on the stays of the mast. It remained 
on the island during that and the following day, perched for the 
greater part of the time on the wire stays, while every now* and 
again, uttering a short harsh cry, it darted down among the grass 
after a moth, or other insect, only to be chased back by the 
Noddy Terns that were nesting in the vicinity. After March 
5th it was not seen again. 
(22) WELCOME SWALLOW (Hirundo neoxena). 
This small bird was first observed on March 4th, 1924. It 
spent the afternoon flying about the island just above the grass, 
and darted here and there as if catching insects. It was seen 
only in flight. It remained about the island on March 5th, but 
was not seen later. 
(23) WHITE CRANE (?)• 
During some heavy rain on the afternoon of April 5th, 1924, 
I noticed five large white birds flying to the east of the island. 
Next morning I saw one of them on the beach. In shape and 
size it resembled a Native Companion, but its plumage was white. 
It had a reddish bill and dark-coloured legs. The neck and legs 
were long, and when in flight, the legs were stretched out beyond 
the tail. When approached it flew to the opposite beach, where 
it remained for a couple of hours and then disappeared.* 
Note.—T hrough the courtesy of the Curator, Mr. ). A. Ker¬ 
shaw, I had access to the collections at the National Museum, 
and was thus enabled to confirm the identification of the species 
seen at Willis Island.—J.H. 
*There is no species of Crane which would fit Mr. Hogan's descrip¬ 
tion, and the occurrence of a White Crane in the Australian region is 
very improbable. The birds seen were probably White Egrets 
(Egrctta alba), but this species is a good deal smaller than the Native 
Companion and its bill i» vellnw not. reddish.—Editor. 
