26 MORSE, Birds of the Morcc District. ["^isffuTy" 



Pcrzana fluminea. Spotted Crake. — In 1917 I found a single egg of 

 this species; but until the present year was unable to find another. 

 However, in October, my boys and I found three nests in one day. 

 The birds are not easily flushed, so are seldom seen; but are prob- 

 ably mere numerous than one would suppose. 



Porzana plumbea. Spotless Crake. — During one of our camps on 

 the watercourse, Mr. Mawhiney secured a specimen of this bird, but 

 that is the only one I have seen. 



Porzana pusilla. Baillcn's Crake. — Plentiful, breeding from Septem- 

 ber to February. 



Tribonyx ventralis. Black-tailed Water-Hen. — Common. One pair 

 nested in a kerosene box placed near a tree. 



Gallinula tenebrosa. Black Moor-Hen. — Very numerous; breeding 

 freely during spring months. 



Porphyrio melanotus. Bald Coot. — Vei-y numerous in the vicinity 

 of the high sags and tall rushes. Nests and eggs are very similar to 

 previous bird. 



Fulica atra. Coot. — Very numerous where there are open spaces of 

 water; breeds freely during spring months. 



Podicep.s ruficollis. Black-throated Grebe. — Plentiful in all quiet 

 waters. During the spring of 1921, several nested in a small lagoon 

 close to my house, and it was here I first witnessed the old birds 

 carrying the young under their wings, which they continue to do for 

 the first fortnight. 



Podiceps poliocephalus. Hoary-headed Grebe. — Not numerous; there 

 are certain lagoons where a few pairs are generally to be found. 

 Breeds during summer months. 



Podiceps cristatus. Great Crested Grebe. — Rare, and up to the pre- 

 sent 1 have been unable to find a nest, though I know they breed here, 

 as on one occasion while fishing in a large quiet lagoon, an old bird 

 swam out of the high reeds opposite me followed by three young. 



Chlidonias leucopareia. Whiskered Tern. — These graceful little 

 birds can often be seen flitting and skimming over the surface of the 

 large lagoons, no doubt breeding in some quiet spot. 



Erythrogonys cinctus. Red-kneed Dottrel. — Plentiful round the mar- 

 gins of the lagoons, preferring the still to running water, nesting 

 freely on small muddy islands. They do not, as has been previously 

 stated, coat their eggs with mud as a protection. 



Lobibyx novae-hoUandise. Spur-winged Plover. — Numerous. 



Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plover. — Numerous, prefers the 

 more open and barer ground of a drier nature than that favoured by 

 the Spurwing. 



Charadrius melanops. Black-fronted Dottrel. — Numerous. 



I'eitohyas australis. Australian Dottrel. — I have only seen a single 

 living bird of this species, and that was during the drought of 1919. 

 Mr. Mawhiney often repcits them from his quarter, but he tells me 

 he only sees them on one little gravelly plain. 



Himantopus leuoocephalu.s. White-headed Stilt. — Plentiful about the 

 swamps, where they breed in colonies. 



Recurvirostra novsr-hollandia'. Red-necked .Avocet. — Rare visitor. 

 I have, on two or three occasions, seen a pair of these birds during 

 droughts, each time they have been wandering about in the swamps 

 caused by the overflow of artesian bores. 



