NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 747 



Dr. A. M. Morgan, South Australia, mentions a nest containing five 

 eggs that was taken from a bush growing in the water of a swamp near 

 Farina. Date, 18th August, 1898. 



580. — PoEZANA PALusTRis, Gould — (574) 

 LITTLE CRAKE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 80. 



Reference.— Cai. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiii., p. 109. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (184S) , 



also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 341 (1865) ; Ramsay : Proc. Linn. 



Soc, N.S. Wales, vol. vii., p. 56. pl- 3. fig- H (18S2). 



Geographical Distrihution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South and West Australia and Tasmania. 



Xest. — Slightly concave on top ; composed of poi-tions of small, round 

 or flat (according to the species) i-ushes or other aquatic plants, and 

 concealed in i-ushes, &c., in shallow water, or on the mud of swamps. 

 Dimensions over all, about 4 inches by 6 inches in lieight ; egg cavity, 

 about I inch deep. There are usually two small (back and front) 

 entrances to the nest, through the clump of herbage containing the nest. 



Egijs. — Clutch, four to eight ; oval in shape ; texture of shell fine ; 

 surface glossy ; colour, brownish-olive, fairly but faiutly mottled over 

 the whole surface with a darker shade of the same colour. Dimensions 

 in inches of a clutch: (1) 1-12 x '75, (2) 1-11 x -77, (3) 1-1 x -77, 

 (4) 1-0 X -76. (Plate 19.) 



Observations. — The rank vegetation of swamps and similar localities 

 difficult to explore is the safe liome of the Little Crake, which is an 

 inhabitant chiefly of the southern portion of AustraUa (including Tas- 

 mania), ranging up to Qvieensland on the east coast. It is said to be 

 more common in Tasmania than on the mainland. I used to see odd 

 birds skipping over the water of the Caulfield Swamp, near Melbounie, 

 before mimicipal stupidity reclaimed, or rather destroyed, that natm-al 

 retreat for water-fowl, which could have been beautified and made a 

 permanent home and breeding reserve for many of the feathered tribe. 



Gould was indebted to the Rev. T. J. Ewing, D.D., Tasmania, for the 

 nest and eggs of the Little Water Crake, which he (Gould) accurately 

 described. 



I have received eggs from Western Port; while Mr. J. G. Gray, of 

 Kentucky, Riverina, sent me a valuable note with an egg for identifica- 

 tion, referring to a nest containing eight eggs that had been discovered 

 by a famier's son. Dry mshes formed tlie bed of the nest, over wliich 

 green nishes were bent as if to afford concealment as well as protection 

 from the weather. Season 1893. The season following, Mr. G. A. 



