746 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



In describing the eggs of the Slate-breasted Rail (Hypotcenidia 

 brachypusj, the previous year, I stated that Goiild had in en'or probably 

 described the eggs of one of the Porzance for those of the Riiil, au ciTor 

 easily made, considering the similar habits of both birds. There is no 

 room to doubt now that the Spotted Crake's eggs were supposed by the 

 great author to be those of the Rail. I am pleased for the sake of 

 other collector, as well as myself, that this matter has been cleared 

 up, and, moreover, has been amply substantiated tlu'ough the good and 

 enthusiastic services of Mr. A. E. Brent. 



Like most other Crakes, the Spotted keeps well witlun tlie confines 

 of the dense herbage of its swampy retreat. Hence, as Gould from 

 experience truly says, it is seldom seen unless the greatest trouble and 

 labour are expended to hunt it out of its hiding place. Therefore, all 

 the more credit is due to Mr. A. E. Brent, who, about the first week 

 hi November one season, aided by a favoimte Gordon setter, tracked 

 these birds, and was vei-y successful in finding thi-ee of their nests in 

 the reedy lagoons, formerly the ovei-flow of the Derwent River, Tasmania. 

 Two nests contained each four- eggs, the other five. The nests were 

 placed among bimches of inishes, partly on the water, and constiiicted of 

 aquatic weeds for a foundation, and lined with soft band grass, which 

 was damp. As in the case of the Slate-breasted Rail, a staging or track 

 led up from the water to the nest. 



In other communications received from Mr. Brent he has furnished 

 some valuable and cimous facts concerning Spotted Ci'akes. He writes : 

 " In company with Mr. Han-ison and Mr. Arthiu- Butler, I went to the 

 marshes, and had not been long at work when Mr. Haiiison had the 

 good fortune to flush a bird from her nest containing four eggs. Round 

 the nest the water was just beginning to diy, leaving a thick, sticky 

 mud, with which the eggs were completely covered, hiding colom-, spots, 



and eveiything The enca.sement of mud on the Crake's 



eggs is easily explained. The season being veiy dry, tlie water soaked 

 away, leaving a thick mud for some distance round the nest, through 

 which the birds had to wade, and, naturally enough, canned a certain 

 amount on their feet each time they visited the nest. A small channel 

 was plainly visible in the mud, through the birds keeping to the one 

 track, which led to the discovei-y of tlie nest. 



" Since, I have taken two more nests of the Spotted Crake. The 

 first contained five eggs, the last six eggs ; and I took also two Lewin's 

 Rails, each containing five eggs. In all these clutches there have been 

 odd eggs — a pair either devoid of coloiu-ing or larger, or very much smaller 

 in size, as the case may be. But the general rule is, in a clutch of five 

 a pair is large, while three match each otlier in every way. " 



Mr. Brent and companions, diu'ing tlie season, took no less than 

 seventeen eggs of the Spotted Crake, representing clul<hes of 6, 5, 4, and 

 2 respectively. In October (beginning), 1896, he himself took three 

 nests of the Spotted Crake with 3, 4, and 5 eggs respectively. 



A set of eggs in my collection, taken at Slab Crock, Queensland, 

 season 1885, have a lighter ground-colour, but in other respects ai'e 

 similar to the Tasmauiau eggs. In tliis instance the nest was foiuid 

 among water-lilies and laishes, and was composed of dead nishes in a wet 

 state. 



