74-0 



NESTS AXD EGGS OF ArS2-7!ALIAN BINDS. 



retired for a few minutes to allow the bird to retuni ; then I told him 

 to stand guard to identify the bird as she left the uest. while I pro- 

 ceeded to flush her. Looking into the tussock, I could see her on the 

 nest, and, making a spring, with both hands I captured her." 



The number of eggs in completed clutches found by Mr. Brent is 

 respectively 5, 5, 5, 5, 4. 4. and 4. 



In the following note, kindly sent to me, Mr. Brent contrasts the 

 nest-s of the Slat^?-breasted (Lewin) Rail and of the Spotted Crake : 

 " Both Spotted Crake and Lewin Rail have the stage or track leading 

 up to the nest; but much larger in the latter, on account of the great 

 height of some of the positions from the ground, as compared with 

 those of the Crake, wliich are low down. I have found the nest of the 

 Rail as high as three feet from the ground, whereas I have never found 

 the other more than one foot high. The nest of the Rail is more 

 compact, rounder and deeper, with the fine gra.ss and rushes overhead 

 laced together and formed into a kind of dome-shaped basket-work 

 covering. I should like to di-aw youi- attention to the fact that tliis 

 little bit of workmansliip does not occur imtil such time as the bird is 

 sitting, when she seems to amuse herself by reaching up her long neck 

 and bill, and pulling the rushes down. Tlie nest of the Ci-ake is not 

 like the Rail's, being composed of di-v bits of rushes and aquatic weeds 

 carelessly made, with a shght attempt at an overhead covering. Wlien 

 sitting, the nest-stage and eggs are mostly plastered \vith a thick 

 coating of mud, in fact, you cannot tell if the latter are eggs or stones, 

 I find I have omitted to sav the nest of the Rail is composed of fine 

 band-grass (diy), beautifully put together, with a track of the same 

 material, which has the appearance of being gathered up by the end 

 and carried in as far as the nest by the bird, where the end is tucked 

 in, and the remaining part, which is generally long, left lying where 

 the bird entered — by tliis means the track is fonned. In the case of 

 the Crake, she carries nothing for her stage, but simply makes use of 

 the rushes and gi-ass at hand, and with her fine long toes she must 

 tread it into position. " 



Breeding months September to December. 



575. — Hypot-enidia philippinensis, Linnseus. — (570) 

 PECTORAL RAIL. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 76. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiii., p. 39. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Oould ; Birds of Australia (184S) . 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 335 (1865) ; Hutton : Trans. New 

 Zealand In.^titute, vol. iii., p. iii (1S71); BuUer : Birds of 

 New Zealand (187^), vol. ii., p. qq (iSSS) : North : .\ustn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 32S (1889)"; North : Trans. Rov. .<oc.. South .Vustralia, 

 vol, xxii., p. 164 (1898). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general and Tasmania, 



