IKIIlllNVX. '221 



The eggs ate usually live to eii;ln in number for a sitting, oval or elongate o\al in form, the 

 sfieli being close-grained, smooth and slightly lustrous. They vary from a dull yellowish-stone 

 colour to a light bufTy-brown, over which is sparingly but uniformly distributed dots, spots, small 

 blotches and short streaks of different shades of chestnut-brown, with which are intermingled 

 similar imderlying markings of purplish-lirown, many of the latter being almost obsolete. On 

 some specimens the markings are rounded in shape, on others they form blurs, small irregular 

 patches, or short wavy hair lines. A set of seven in the Australian Museum Collection measures: — 

 Len.Litli (A) 2-2 x 1-3- inches; (B) 2-2 x 1-47 inches; (C) 2-19 x 1-47 inches; (D) 2-12 x 

 1-53 inches; (E) 2-27 x 1-48 inches; (F) 2-28 x 1-5 inches; (G) 2-25 x 1-54 inches. A set 

 of three taken on the ist November, 1890, by the Rev. II. D. Atkinson, at Evandale, Tasmania, 

 measures; — Length (A) 2-12 x 1-48 inclies; (B) 2-05 x 1-47 inches; (C) 2-07 x 1-48 inches. 

 A set of live tak'en on the 9th November, 1908, by Mr. J. R. Boyer, at New Norfolk Swamps, 

 measures: — Length (A) 2-i8 x 1-49 inches; (B) 2-13 x 1-5 inches; (C) 2-22 x 1-45 inches; 

 (D) 2- 1 9 X I '45 inches: (li) 2' 14 < 1-47 inches 



September and the three following months constitute the usual breeding season of this 

 species. 



Tribonyx ventralis. 



ULAi'K'-TAILED NATIVK HEX. 

 (jiiVinula rentralis, Gould, ProL\ Zool. Soc, 18.'j(j, p. 8."). 



Trlbunyx o'lUrali^, Gould, IMs. .\ust r , foL Vol. VL, pi. ', i (lS+8); id., Haudhk. Bds. Austi-.,Vol. 

 II., p. oib (1S(k")j. 



Micrulribomj.r veiUntlU, .Sliarpe, Cat. IMs. \\i-\t. Miis., Vol. .KXIII, p. l("i.") ( l.'^O I) ; ii.l., Haud-1. 

 Bds., Vol. I., p. 107 (1S!)9) 



Adult m.\LE. — (ji'wral ciilnnr nlmri' nl ire Ih-divh, ivit/i a sliyht (jvi'e.ui^h-rjri'ij sliade : upper irut;/- 

 covrrts ami innermost secondaries like tlie buck, hn,l less eonspicnonsly ivashed icif/i, yreenisJi-grey ; 

 reniaiuiler of llie qniUs dark brotvn, tlie outer web of the first primary edye.il icit/i. irhite ; tail -/'eat hers 

 blackish -bro>vn : croivn of tlie head like the back, sides of fore-part of head blackish ; throat and all 

 the under surface dark bluisli-yrey ; sides of upper breast tinijed /rith olive-green ; vent, under tail- 

 coverts and loiver Jlinks black, the apical portion of tlie feathers of the latter having a central streak 

 of ivhite ; bill light green, base of lotrer mandible reddish-orange ; legs and feet deep brick-red: iris 

 reddish-orange. Total length in the flesh 13 inches, wing S'7, tail 3'5, bill 1'25, tarsus 2 5. 



Adult female. — Similar in pilumage to the male, but snmller. 



Distribution. — North-western .\ustralia. Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia. 



/T^lIE Black-tailed Native Hen, or "Swamp Hen" as it is frequently called, is widely 

 -L distributed over the greater portion of the .\ustralian continent. While, however, in 

 some districts it may be regarded almost as a resident, the greater number of these birds are 

 nomadic in habits. Ever since Australia was first settled accounts have from time to time 

 appeared of the visitation of countless numbers, son'etimes in places where they were never 

 observed before, nor seen again since. Large flocks appear suddenly in a district and cause 

 much destruction, eating all kinds of grain and vegetable foods, and quite denuding it of every 

 vestige of anything green. 



Swamps, dams, reed-beds and back waters overgrown with tussocks of rushes and low bushes 

 are its favourite haunts, and it may often be seen feeding on their grassy margins. It also 

 resorts to crops and cultivation paddocks, frequently a mile or more from water. It runs like 



