THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 337 



All these birds are formed on pretty much the same plan, 

 and have considerable power of movement both on the 

 dry ground and in the water, running, swimming, and 

 diving with great elegance and ease; but, as a rule, their 

 flight is weak, and incapable of being prolonged for any 

 extended period, the birds never taking to the wing as long 

 as there is water to hide in, and a clear field across which 

 to save themselves from an enemy by swift running. 



They diflfer most in size and in the formation of the feet, 

 the rails proper having divided toes like ordinary" land 

 birds, while the coots have a web-like projection round each 

 of them, but, nevertheless, free, and not united as in the case 

 of the ducks; while the gallinules and some of the others 

 have their toes so enormously produced that the birds are 

 able to run along the surface of the water on the leaves of 

 the aquatic plants as readily as on dry land. 



Some of them are rather brilliantly coloured, but the 

 majority arc dull of plumage, and all make their nests and 

 lay their eggs in the immediate vicinity of water. 



The food consists of aquatic insects, molluscs, and vege- 

 table matters. If desired, they can all be kept in confine- 

 ment if fed as nearly as possible in accordance with their 

 natural habits ; and many species, especially those from 

 New Zealand, can be acclimatised with care, and will live 

 and breed on any ornamental water where a little 

 sequestered island has been thoughtfully provided for their 

 accommodation. 



THE BUSTARDS. 



The Australian Bustard {Eupodotis) is the onl)^ repre- 

 sentative of the family to which it belongs that is found in 

 that dependency of the British Empire ; it bears a consider- 

 able likeness to the bird that was once so common on 



Y 



