ORDER XII.—ARDEIFORMES.
F. 50. IBIDIDAE (3), IBISES, 27 sp.—4(2)A., 6(2)O., 3(0)P., 10(8)E., 4(0)Nc., 11(7)Nl.
1
5
112 Australian White Ibis (Black-necked), Sickle-Bill, Ibis molucca, Mol., N.G., A. =vt. Sacred Ibis of Egypt.
Nom. flocks, r. lagoons 30
White; head, upper-neck bare black; back of head and neck barred rose-pink; black bill arched; f., smaller. Insects.
1
1
113 Straw-necked Ibis, Dryweather (Letter) Bird, Farmer's Friend, Carphibis spinicollis, A. T.
Nom. flocks, c. grassy 28
"This beautiful ibis;" head, fore-neck naked black; black bill arched; pointed, straw-colored plumes on neck; breast, upper greenish-purple barred black; abdomen, flanks, tail white; f., smaller. Insects.
1
3
114 Glossy Ibis, Black Curlew (e), Plegadis falcinellus, A., T., N.Z., almost cos. exc. S. Am., Arctic, and Pac. Is.
[~114 Egatheus falcinellus.]
Nom. flocks, v.r. swampy 25
Head, neck, breast, back, under rich reddish-chestnut; lower-back, tail dark bronze-green; winter; head, neck streaked white; f., sim. Insects, worms.
F. 51. PLATALEIDAE (2), SPOONBILLS, 6 sp.—2(2)A., 2(0)O., 2(0)P., 2(1)E., 1(0)Nc., 1(0)Nl.
1
4
115 Black-billed Spoonbill (Royal), Platalea regia, A., N.Z.
Nom. r. marshy 29
White; bill, legs, feet black; f., sim. Shellfish, frogs.
| 128 Cape Barren Goose 129 Maned Goose 131 Plumed Whistling Duck | 133 Black Duck 134 Australian Teal 135 Gray Teal | 136 Australian Shoveller 137 Pink-eared Duck 139 White-eyed Duck |
| 152 Allied Harrier 155 Australian Goshawk 157 Collared Sparrowhawk | 158 Wedge-tailed Eagle 165 Black-shouldered Kite 167 Black-cheeked Falcon | 170 Little Falcon 172 Brown Hawk 173 Nankeen Kestrel |
1
1
116 Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Platibis flavipes, A.
Nom. r. swamps 28
White; bill, legs, feet yellow; f., sim. Shellfish, frogs,
F. 52. CICONIIDAE (1), STORK (JABIRU), 19 sp.—2(0)A., 10(6)O., 4(1)P., 8(4)E., 2(0)Nc., 3(1)Nl.
F. 53. Scopidae, Hammer-Head, 1 sp. E.
F. 54. Balaenicipitidae, Shoe-bird, Shoebill, Whaleheaded Stork, 1 sp. E. (Upper White Nile).
F. 55. ARDEIDAE (16), HERONS, 107 sp.—32(16)A., 27(4)O., 21(1)P., 25(14)E., 17(4)Nc., 33(20)Nl.
1
3
117 Plumed Egret, Mesophoyx plumifera, Cel., Mol., N.G., A.
[~117 Egretta plumifera.]
Nom. v.r. swamps 24
White; bill yellow; feet, lower legs black, above "knee" yellow; f., sim. Insects.
1
3
118 Australian White Egret (Great), White Crane (e), Herodias timoriensis, Jap., China, Philippines to A., T., N.Z.
[~118 E. timoriensis.]
Nom. v.r. lagoons 30
"This noble species;" white; bill beautiful orange; legs above "knee" and line down centre of inner shin dull yellow; rest of shin, feet black; naked space about eye greenish-yellow; f., sim. Fish, frogs, insects.
2
4
119[*] White-fronted Heron, Blue-Crane (e), Matuku, Notophoyx novae-hollandiae, Cel., Mol., N.G., A., T., N.Z.
Nom. v.c. about water 24
Face, throat white; upper, wings dark-gray; under gray tinged rufous; f., sim. Insects, crabs, yabbies.
120 White-necked Heron (Pacific), White-necked Crane (e), N. pacifica, A., T.
Stat. r. swamps 30
Head, neck, breast, shoulder white; under, wings, tail upper blackish; f., smaller. Frogs, insects.
1
2
121 Lesser Egret (Little, Spotless), Garzetta nigripes, Malay to N.G., A.
[~121 E. nigripes.]
Nom. r. swamps 22
White; 2 long plumes from nape; feet, legs totally black; bill black; f., sim. Frogs, insects.
1
1
122 Reef Heron (White, Blue, Sacred), Demiegretta sacra, Jap., Ind. to A., T., N.Z.
[~122 Demigretta sacra.]
Stat. r. coast 23
Dark slaty-gray; bill yellowish-green; some birds are white; f., sim. Crabs, shellfish.
1
8
123[*] Nankeen Night Heron, Nankeen Crane (e), Nycticorax caledonicus, Cel., N.G., A., T., N.Z. =vt. Eur. Night Heron. Frogs, insects, yabbies.
Mig. c. swamps 19
Nocturnal; crown, nape black; long white plumes from nape; upper rich chestnut; abdomen white; neck, chest reddish-chestnut; f., sim.; young mottled brown, buff.
2
10
124 Minute Bittern, Kaoriki, Ardetta pusilla, A., N.Z., =vt. Eur. Little Bittern.
[~124 Ixobrychus pusillus.]
Stat. v.r. swamps 10
Crown, back, tail greenish-black; under pale-buff; hind-neck, shoulder deep-chestnut; bill, feet yellow; dark line from chin to lower breast; f., smaller; upper brown streaked chestnut; tail black; under white streaked brown. Water-animals.
1
5
125[*] Australian Bittern (Black-backed), Boomer, Bull-Bird. Matuku-Lurepo, Botaurus poeciloptilus, A. T., N. Cal., N.Z. =vt. Eur. Bittern.
Stat. r. reeds 24
Head, hind-neck, back dark-brown; wings brown marked buff; throat, under creamy-buff streaked dark-brown; bill yellow; f., smaller. Fish, frogs, yabbies, insects.
F. 56. Palamedeidae, Screamers, Unicorn-Bird, 3 sp. Nl.
F. 57. Phoenicopteridae, Flamingoes, 6 sp.—2(0)O., 1(0)P., 2(0)E., 1(0)Nc., 4(3)Nl.
Swans, Geese, and Ducks, the Swimming Birds grouped in Order XIII., are all classified in one family, though there are many sub-families.
At the head of the Australian birds is the Black Swan—that rara avis which, possibly, has done more to advertize Australia than any other Australian animal or plant. A "black" swan was an "impossibility," so this bird was one of the strongest factors in establishing Australia's reputation as a land of paradoxes and contradictions.
The Black Swan is well known outside Australia, as it is common in every park and garden in Europe. Gould feared that it would be exterminated here, but fortunately Australians are now learning to appreciate their own land, and there is no danger of such a calamity.
Eight species of Swans are known to occur all over the world with the exception of New Zealand and Africa.
In the next sub-family there is but one bird—the Semipalmated Goose of Australia. This bird, better known as the Magpie Goose, has its feet but half-webbed, hence its specific name, semipalmata. It is getting rare, though I heard of six near Colac recently.
Again, the only living representative of the next sub-family is the Cape Barren Goose, which is common in city gardens in Adelaide. It is also becoming rare. It is found only in Tasmania, the Bass Strait Islands, and Southern Australia. We visited its nesting place near Flinders Island. It is a very pugnacious bird, so it is difficult to keep with other birds.
After the Goose sub-family comes the group which includes our "Wood Duck," or, as it is called, the Maned Goose, for its bill is goose-like. It is a common bird in Australia. Two allied genera are found in South America and North-east Africa respectively.
In the next sub-family come the domestic Ducks and most of the wild Ducks of Australia. This group is often referred to as the "Freshwater or River Ducks."
First come two kinds of Whistling Ducks—so called on account of their whistling note uttered while flying. These are rare Ducks, one of which is found as far as India; the other is occasionally seen in New Zealand, as well as in Australia. The Sheldrake, or Shieldrake (Mountain Duck) is the largest Australian Duck, and one of the most handsome of the sub-family. It is nowhere very plentiful, though one or more pairs appear in most suitable localities. As it is unfit for the table, it should be spared as an ornament to the landscape.
The Black Duck is very similar to the common wild Duck (Mallard) of England. Our Black Duck does not change color with the season, nor is the male different in color from the female.
The Australian Teal is closely similar to the Teal of Europe. It is a grass feeder, and is a good table bird. The female is very different from the male. It is impossible to distinguish the male Gray Teal from the female Teal when in the free state. Mr. Keartland (ex-President of the Field Naturalist Club, and ornithologist to the Horn and Calvert exploring expeditions) has shown that there is a big difference in weight. The male of the smaller Gray Teal is not brightly colored like the male Chestnut-breasted Teal.
The remarkable Shoveller comes next. It is closely similar to the English Shoveller. Strange that this name was first used for the Spoonbill. The Shovellers are found the world over. The males are very brightly colored in the nesting season.
Unlike most other birds, Swans and Ducks lose the whole of their wing feathers at once when moulting, so that for a short time they cannot fly. As a protection, the gaudy ones acquire a quiet, inconspicuous coloration for a time, so that the male is said to get an "eclipse plumage." Many other birds get a bright dress for the breeding season only, but the male Duck wears his bright dress for the whole year, except in the moulting period. It is then "eclipsed," with the corresponding advantage that he is protected from his many enemies at a time when he is most helpless.
The remarkable Pink-eared Duck has no close relative. It has a small pink spot between the eye and ear, and so is called pink-eyed or pink-eared. It is found only in Australia. The female is similar in color to the male. The name Wigeon, or Widgeon, sometimes applied to this Duck, properly belongs to another of the fresh-water Ducks which is not found in Australia. Hence, this name should not be used for our bird.
Another peculiar Australian Duck is the Freckled Duck. It is a very rare bird. One taken on the ornithologists' excursion to Eyre Peninsula was considered a prize. So far as is known, it does not change color with the season, nor has the male or female the usual bright metallic patch seen on the wing of a Duck.
The "Salt-water Ducks" form the next sub-family. These Ducks, though, are not always true to name, for they are not confined to the salt water. The Victorian representative is the well-known White-eyed Duck, or Hardhead. This Duck was common on the Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne, until it was emptied some time ago. Thus, our one "Salt-water Duck" was often seen on fresh water. In the same sub-family come the Eider-Ducks of Iceland and the Logger-head, Racehorse, or Steamer Duck, of Magellan Straits, which is said to lose the power of flight on reaching maturity after the first moult. Thus the life-history tells us that this bird is a degenerate form, and not a primitive flightless form, for it has evidently descended from flying ancestors. It uses its wings to row itself along at great speed.
The ninth sub-family of this group of swimming birds contains two native Ducks. The Blue-billed Duck, the first of these, is "especially adapted for immersion and for obtaining its food from the bottom of the water rather than on its surface." It was thought by Gould to be confined to the coastal lagoons of Western Australia, but it has since been recorded from inland in Victoria, and four specimens have been taken in Tasmania. It remains under the water for a considerable time, and, if hunted, flaps along the surface with its short wings, but hesitates to exercise its "feeble grebe-like flight."
Some writers declare that the large Musk Duck is the most remarkable of the many remarkable birds of Australia. It is the only known species of the genus, and is "singularly different from every other member of the Duck family," as Gould points out. Gould further says that "this extraordinary bird reminds one of the Cormorants. Like many other of these antipodean forms, it must be regarded as an anomaly." The male has a lengthened, stiff, and leather-like appendage under the bill. The female is without this pouch, and is but half the size of the male. A pair is often to be seen on a sheltered bay or on an inland dam, and yet this bird has very feeble powers of flight. It is difficult to cause one to take to flight. Mr. A. J. Campbell summed up an instructive discussion on this point in the columns of The Australasian by concluding that Musk Ducks can fly, though they do so almost entirely at night.
