116 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



Eggs. — Clutch four to nine; varying in shape from stout oval 

 to long oval ; texture of shell coarse ; surface fairly glossy ; ground 

 colour grey or greenish-stone, marked with moderate-sized spots of 

 reddish-brown and purplisli-brown, many niiiuite spots of the latter 

 colour appearing as though under the surface. Clutches from dif- 

 ferent localities often differ in size, shape, and the number and 

 intensitv of the markings. Dimensions in nnn. of an average 

 clutch :— (1) 53 x 40, (2) 54 x 39, (3) 54 x 38, (4) 56 x 39, (5) 51 

 X 3G, (6) 54 X 40, (7) 54 x 38. Of a selected pair :— (1) 62 x 39, (2) 

 65 x 37. 



Breeding Season. — August to Januar}-. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania. 



Observations. — There are very few dwellers in the country, at 

 least, who do not know this bird, if not by sight at least by sound. 

 In some districts it is extremely plentiful, but, owing to its shy 

 disposition, it is always difficult to obtain an idea of its numbers 

 unless one lays oneself out for the express purpose of' watching 

 for it. Although as a general rule the nest is placed well out of 

 sight and away from habitations, I know of more than one instance 

 where the nest was constructed in the open by the side of a 

 creek not more than two hundred yards from a dwelling. Along 

 the edges of rivers that overflow their banks at times, and where 

 there is a quantity of debris washed up against the roots of the 

 willows and briers, no true nest is formed, but only a semblance 

 of one, for sticks, leaves, and other vegetable matter are raked 

 together and formed into an apology for a nest. Swampy places, 

 creeks, and rivers, where there is a sufficiency of cover on the 

 banks, are the favourite haunts of this bird. During the middle 

 of the day it generally remains hidden among the undergrowth of 

 its retreats, but early in the morning and just about sundown it 

 sallies forth in search of food. It is at such times that one is made 

 painfully aware of the harsh, grating voice of this bird, which can 

 be heard for a considerable distance. A chorus of some half-dozen 

 or more is rather excruciating, especially when heard at close 

 quarters, as I have often found when lying watching their habits. 

 Each and every bird seems to commence on a different key, so 

 that the discord may be imagined. The noise of sharpening a 

 saw or cutting through galvanized iron is music in comparison. 

 The Native-Hen is a very swift runner, and will give most dogs 

 a good "go" over a short distance. From practical experience 

 I know that this bird cannot be domesticated, even when the eggs 

 ai'e taken from the nest and brought out under a farmyard hen. 

 A peculiar habit of the bird is that of bobbing its tail constantly 

 up and down as though the appendage were on a spring. When 

 not in motion it is carried erect like that of the ordinary domestic 

 fowl. In some agricultural districts whei-e the haunts of the 

 Native-Hen are in close proximity to grain fields, farmers are very 

 vehement in their accusations against the bird, for thej' allege it 



