Avifauna of New Caledonia. 537 



the " Quail " by the settlers. It extends also to the lonely 

 "Chesterfield Islands/^ far away out at sea, between this 

 island and Australia. It seems incredible that a bird that 

 never flies when it can run should be found so widely distri- 

 buted on remote sea-girt islands. 



72. OllTYGOMETRA TABUENSIS (Gmcl.) . 



73. Ortygometra quadristrigata, Horsf. 



Both these little Water- Rails are found sparingly over the 

 island. The latter species was killed near Noumea by a 

 young friend, M. Grasset, who also found another pair con- 

 structing a nest on the same day, 11th October, 1880. They 

 both inhabit grassy swamps, and swim and dive with facility. 



74. PODICEPS GULARIS, Gould. 



This little Australian Grebe is an inhabitant of most of our 

 marshes, but from its retiring habits it is rarely seen. 

 Though we know of the existence of a Grebe, and tried our 

 best to secure one for identification, we have only lately suc- 

 ceeded in doing so. 



75. Anas superciliosa, Gmel. 



The " Black Duck,^^ as it is called, is the common Duck of 

 the country, being found on all our marshes and rivers when 

 not too much persecuted by sportsmen and pot-hunters ; it 

 also frequents the sea-shore and islands within the circling 

 reef, and L. L. has shot them feeding about the coral itself. 



It breeds inland, generally on the mountains covered with 

 niaoulie-forest near some damp spot, either a runlet of water 

 or a little swamp, but is especially careful to place its rough 

 loose nest above the reach of a chance inundation. We ob- 

 tained a nest of fresh-laid eggs, seven in number, on the 15th 

 of October at Moindou. It was placed at the foot of a 

 niaoulie-tree, near a small swamp, at some distance from the 

 water. The eggs are of a dirty creamy white, with a tinge 

 of green. Axis 2" 4'", diam. 1" 7'". 



This is the only Duck we have killed ; but of three other 

 species we have certain information, and as M. Marie pro- 

 cured and identified some of them, and MM. Verreaux and 

 Des Murs another, we include them in our list. 



