220 KAI,LII),«, 



The large series of specimens, both in the Moiuited and Reference Collections of the 

 Australian Museum, were obtained principally by the late iNIr. Ivendal Broadbent, near 

 Launceston, where I also obser\ed this species in December, igo6, near the bridge crossing 

 the river at Cora Lynn ; also earlier in the same month on the upper part of the Derwent Ri\er, 

 above New Norfolk. 



Dr. Lonsdale li<jlden, while resident in South-eastern Tasmania, made the following notes : — 

 " In October, 1894, I saw plenty of Native Hens (Tiihonyx muvtics'i ) on the Isis River, and 

 and caught a chick in black down. On the 17th November, iSyg, 1 saw a few on the banks of 

 the Styx River, in the I.^erwent \'alley, and amongst them was one only about two-thirds grown. 

 These birds flick up their tails lilce Poifliyrio mclanotin, but the tails are not white underneath, 

 and the action is not so noticeable. 1 heir cry is lilce the sound produced by a sword being 

 sharpened. On the 4th November, igoo, I foimd a nest of 'frihoiivx iiioiiiiii for the first time. 

 It was in a small marsh, about one hundred yards from the Sty.x River, and soiue six miles 

 above its entrance into the Derwent River. In this matsh were lying some dead tree trunks and 

 limbs, and clumps of rushes and grass. The nest was an open structure, about the size of an 

 ordinary band-box, and made of dry herbage and broad blades of grass, and had no special 

 lining, and was built on the edge of a clump of rushes, where a fallen limb crossed one of 

 the trunks ; it was about eight inches above the surface of the water, and was (juite concealed 

 from any one on dry land, ft contained three black chicks, the bill very black, with the base of 

 the upper mandible pale pink'. The chicks bounded over the side of the nest into the water, Imt 

 I caught one of them, and after examining it let it go. They all took refuge between the stalks 

 of the rushes at the water's edge, pressing themselves in to get concealment. I afterwards spent 

 some time in ambush watching for the return of the parents. Both birds came and drew off the 

 chicks into the low grass near by, but one chick had been entangled in the rushes, and Icept up 

 an incessant piping note, whicli excited the mother, and caused her much running about in the 

 water and out of it. After some time, the chick's piping and the female's distress continuing, I 

 went to the rescue and disentangled the chick'. While I was over at the nest the female lost all 

 her shyness, and came close by me, jerking her head and neck and then her tail, and scolding me 

 with a hoarse monosyllabic croak, and running to and fro. ,-\s I carried the chick to land slie 

 retreated a few yards, but still plainly in my view. I placed the chick on the short grass and 

 retired. It was nearly unable to move from exhaustion, but the hen came near and drew it by 

 calls gradually away, not attempting to carry it in any way, and clearly \ery impatient at its 

 slow movements. The female's behaviour was a strong contrast when returning to the nest, 

 and suspicious of my hidden presence she ran across open places, sheltered behind ferns and 

 bushes, ventured a little nearer, ran on a fallen trimk', glanced anxiously all round, and then 

 retreated. The birds used occasionally a different cry — a loud resonant cluck, or crow, reminding 

 one of the crow of a Pheasant (Phasianits colihicus) ; they did not utter it often, and I thought it 

 was a call of one parent to another, when out of each others sight. The hoarse croak of anger 

 and anxiety was the usual voice. The birds are to be met with on the banks of all the ri\ers in 

 this district. I continually saw them while angling. ,\ resident from boyhood near by told me 

 he had often tried to bring up chicks of the Native Men with his fowls, but they always ran 

 away at the first opportunity. 



" The red iris and the white mark on the flank are conspicuous features in the bird's 

 appearance, and its movements are very interesting to watch." 



Mr. Tom Carter sent me the following note : — " I observed Tyihouyx niorticri in Tasmania 

 in February, 1909, in the coastal swamps about Devonport ; also on the fJerwent River, between 

 Hobart and New Norfolk, and along the edge of lakes and swamps, when travelling by train 

 between Mobart and Launceston." 



