NESTS Ayp EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 753 



Egg^. — Clutch, five usually; occasionally as many as eight; 

 oval or round oval in shape ; texture of shell coarse ; surface glossy ; 

 colour, dark-green, blotched with roundish markings of chestnut and 

 purplish-brown, also minutely .spotted all over wth the same colours. 

 Dimensions in inches of a clutch: (1) 1-8 x 1-26, (2) 179 x 1-26, 

 (3) 1-76 X 1-27, (4) 1-75 x 1-28, (5) 1-72 x 1-22. (Plate 19.) 



Ohservofions. — As Dr. Ramsay and myself have already pointed 

 out, Gould's description of the eggs of the Black-tailed Native Hen is 

 hardly acciu-ate. Probably he has described those of the Moor Hen 

 (GnJlinule ) or some other water-fowl. 



The eggs of the Black-tailed Native Hen are not only handsome 

 for their gi-eenish coloiu-, but the bird itself is intensely interesting. 

 It has been found in all the States, making its appearance, in the south 

 especially, at in-egular intervals, and in such numbers sometimes as to 

 amount to an irruption. 



Tlie first of these irruptions we have on record was during May, 

 1833, when great numbei-s of these Native Hens visited the fields and 

 gardens of the early settlers in Western Australia. In the same State, 

 Gilbert mentioned that, " upon one occasion it visited the Swan River in 

 myriads, treading down and destroying whole fields of com in a single 

 night." 



Also, as further mentioned in Gould, Captain Sturt wrote : " This 

 bird appeared suddenly in Sovith Au.stralia in 1840. It came from the 

 north, fresh ihghts coming up and pushing on those which preceded 

 them. It was moreover evident that they had been unaccustomed to 

 the sight of man, for they dropped in great numbers in the streets and 

 gardens of Adelaide, and ran about like domestic fowls. At last they 

 increased so much in numbers as to swann on all the waters and 

 creeks, doing gi-eat damage to the crops in the neighbourhood. Tliey 

 took entire possession of the creek near my house, and broke down and 

 wholly destroyed about an acre and a quarter of wheat, as if cattle 

 had bedded on it. They made their fii'st appearance in November, 

 and left in the beginning of March, gradually retiiing northward as 

 they had advanced." 



It is also recorded in the autumn of 1854 the Mackenzie River 

 district ( ] Queensland) swarmed with Native Hens. They remained 

 some time, then disappeared, and not a single specimen was seen there 

 for the next three years. 



Gould himself met the bird in the intei-ior of New South Wales, 

 but not in such numbers as to attract his attention. 



It is to be regi-etted that the local inaiptions or invasions of these 

 birds have not all been recorded since Govdd's day. If so, there might 

 have been some data to accoimt for these occurrences. In the Port 

 Lincoln district (South Australia), Mr. Holroyd states : " Native Hens, 

 as we call them, come about once in five years, and then in thousands." 

 Of course we are aware that although the bird is partially ten-estrial 

 in its habits, it needs water. Therefore, no doubt, its movements are 

 guided by the amount of rainfall, or rather by the want of r.ninfall, 

 to fill the swamps and flood the tracts which produce its food where it 

 usuallv breeds. 

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