646 THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



Tare plant. This egg is nearly elliptical in form, glossy, surface 

 finely pitted; of a bujBf ground-colour thickly covered with pale 

 reddish and less frequent dark reddish markings, the latter 

 approaching the form of longitudinal streaks. Dimensions: 

 M5x0-95. 



62(M). 7.P0RPHYR10 MELANONOTUS Temmiuck. 



Bald Coot; Satin Bird(L.H.L); Tarler Bird(NJ.). 



Porphyrio melanotus Gould, p. 32 1; Ramsay, p. 38; North;. 

 •Nests and Eggs,' p.415; Etheridge, 'Lord Howe Island,' p.ll; 

 P. melanonotus Campbell, p. 757. 



Hab. — Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. (Australia generally,. 

 Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea, Moluccas). 



The Bald Coot is not uncommon at Norfolk Island, where it 

 breeds in the creeks and swampy places. Its Norfolk Island 

 local name is a corruption of " Taro " Bird, as it frequents the 

 patches of wild Taro growing in the watercourses. I did not 

 find any nests, but was informed that many young birds were 

 seen in the creeks during the 1908 season. Dr. Metcalfe states 

 that on Norfolk Island the number of eggs laid by this bird is 

 twelve or more( North). 



It is only occasionally seen at Lord Howe Island, and I believe 

 there is no record of its having bred there. 



63(M). 8.N0TORNIS ALBA White. 



White Gallinule. 



Notornis alba Ramsay, p. 3 8. 



jjab. — Lord Howe Island (extinct). 



A threat deal has been written about this remarkable bird, and 

 a summary of the references, together with a plate, are contained 

 in Rothschild's " Extinct Birds." 



Although generally believed to be absolutely extinct, I should 

 not be surprised to hear of a specimen being taken in the recesses 

 of the mountains, many parts of which have not yet beea 

 explored. 



