^"'iQi^'l Flktchkr, Notes on Native-Hen (Tribonyx mortieri) 251 



Both sexes assist in tiie making of the nest. Should the birds he 

 disturbed when carrying material they immediately drop it and 

 run to cover. If the watcher hides they will return, pick up the 

 dropped material, and trot off to the selected building site. Along 

 the edges of the lagoons and rivers large open nests of these species 

 are often to be found during the nesting season. They are 

 generally placed in conspicuous i)]aces, on large stones, fiat rocks, 

 exposed edges of the bank, or in solitary tussocks. The nests are 

 made of soft tussocky grass, the hollow centre being about the size 

 of a dinner plate. 



Between 70 and (So nests were inspected by me in 1910, 

 and in one only did I see a clutch of eggs. Extra nests arc 

 built, I believe, to deceive Hawks and Ravens, and my experience 

 with Bald-Coots (P. melanonolus)* and Bitterns [B. pa'ciloptiliis) 

 points to the fact that these birds also construct dummy nests. 

 Generally speaking, a broody Tribonyx, when disturbed, slips off her 

 nest and runs away. The crouching attitude when running, and 

 the frequent backward looks which the bird gives, usually betray 

 ownership of a nest or hidden offspring. On one occasion I found 

 a nest and three fledgelings were hiding head downwards in the 

 tussock grass around it. A fourth chick, whose down was not yet 

 dry, lay in the centre of the nest squeaking feebly. The chicks 

 had a patch of down on each wing ; legs and bills were 

 black. 



The nest sites are most varied, ranging from a hollow in the 

 ground to a willow tree (6 feet above the ground) and flood 

 debris. In the Scottsdale district I have seen nests built in the 

 centre of a tree-fern. Ravens {Corone aiisfralis) destroy the eggs 

 of the Tribonyx. Occasionally the Ravens hunt in pairs. One 

 will frighten a bird off her nest and chase her while the other 

 attends to the eggs. When the Tribonyx is suiflciently far off her 

 pursuer returns to assist in devouring the eggs, which are some- 

 times eaten in the nest, sometimes carried away. 



Once while eating my lunch near a lagoon I heard the hunting 

 call of a Harrier {Circus gouldi) to her mate, which flew across 

 from the far side of the lagoon. I watched the two birds swoop 

 down in turn and strike at some creature with their claws. 

 Presently I heard a cry of pain, and knew that a Native-Hen was 

 in trouble. So intent were the Harriers on their prey that I was 

 able to approach closely, and saw blood-stained feathers on the 

 hunted bird's back. I frightened the HaiTiers away, and the 

 Tribonyx quickly concealed herself in a thick tangle. I have seen 

 Native-Hens sitting on clutches of from three to nine eggs, and in 

 exceptional cases of twelve, fourteen, and sixteen eggs respectively. 

 The nest containing fourteen eggs appeared to be owned by two 

 pairs of birds, while in other instances the eggs were uniform in 

 appearance. 



*Mr. Gregory Mathews deems the Bald-Coot of Tasmania to be sub-specifically 

 different from the mainland form, and has named it P. ni. Jletchertc, in honour of the 

 writer of this article. — Eds. 



