| 497. Rhynchæa Australis, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 41. |
“This beautiful bird,” says Captain Sturt, “was very scarce in the interior, and indeed is not common anywhere. Some three or four couples visit my residence at Grange yearly, and remain in the high reeds at the bottom of the creek, among which they doubtless breed, but I never found one of their nests. They lie basking in the shade of a tree on the sand-hills during the day, and separate when alarmed.”
Genus Numenius, Linn.
Three species of this form are found in Australia, to which part of the globe they are confined, and wherein they represent the species inhabiting the northern hemisphere, with which their habits, actions and economy are strictly in accordance.
| 498. Numenius Australis, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 42. |
| 499. Numenius uropygialis, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 43. |
| 500. Numenius minutus, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 44. |
Family ARDEIDÆ, Leach.
Subfamily TANTALINÆ, G. R. Gray.
Genus Geronticus, Wagl.
The three species of Ibises inhabiting Australia have been separated by ornithologists into as many genera, and the difference which exists in their habits and economy tends to prove the propriety of their subdivision; for while the Geronticus congregates in flocks of thousands and mainly subsists upon caterpillars, grasshoppers and locusts, a kind of food which it readily obtains on the heated plains, the Threskiornis assembles in small companies of from four to six in number and resorts to the rushy banks of the lagoons and other humid situations, and feeds upon newts, frogs, lizards, snakes and fish, and the Falcinellus resorts to similar situations, but I have had no opportunity of observing its habits.
| 501. Geronticus spinicollis | Vol. VI. Pl. 45. |