Handbook to the Birds of Australia Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 Excerpt: ...streams to the northward of the island. Mr. Gregory remarks that this species is "only found on the banks of rivers and inlets, and in no instance did we see more than one at a time. It flies very slowly, and in form much resembles the Common Crane. The specimen sent is from the mouth of the De Grey." The example from which my description was taken was killed, on the 2nd of January 1840, on the banks of the Mokai. It is of an extremely shy and distrustful disposition, and can only be approached within range by the exercise of the utmost care and caution. Its powers of wing are considerable, and, like other Herons, it occasionally performs long-continued flights at a great height in the air; its food is also of a similar character, consisting of fish, frogs, aquatic insects, &c. When on the ground its snowy plumage presents a strong and pleasing contrast to the green sedge and other herbage clothing the banks of the rivers. That it undergoes seasonal changes of plumage is evident, since I possess specimens, some of which are adorned with long ornamental plumes on.the back, while in others they are entirely wanting, from which I infer that, as they all appear to be old birds, they have been killed at different periods of the year, and that these ornamental plumes are only carried during the months of spring and the breedingseason. The sexes are precisely alike in external appearance, and both possess the lengthened plumes during the vernal season. The whole of the plumage pure white; irides rich strawyellow; naked space before and behind the eye fine greenish yellow; bill beautiful orange; legs above the knee pale dull yellow, which colour is continued down the centre of the inner part of the tarsi; remainder of the tarsi and feet black. Mr. Bly...