rresent Time for the Reed JU-ds District. 108 



Phapn chaleoptcm. — Tdie're are records by my fat'her of this 

 bird havin<;- been plentiful in the district, and I have an excel- 

 lent water colour paintinu^ of the bird executed by him. 

 This bird had disappeared before my time. 



Pcr.zdiKi fiumlnca (Eastern Spotted Crake). — ^Was a com- 

 mon bird in my early days, and nested in the swampy country 

 every year. I can well remember how delighted I was upon 

 finding the first nest. 



Zapavnia pu.nlla (Eastern Little Crake).— This was an 

 exceedingly common bird in the time of my boyhood, but it has 

 not been seen for years now. 



Pc-rzaitoidca plumhca (Eastern Spotless Crake). — This was 

 the least common of the three species, yet at times they put in 

 an appearance in numbers. They are never seen now. 



Microtrihonyx ventralis rvhifei (Eastern Black-tailed 

 Native Hen). — Appeared in great numbers in days gone by. 

 Still visits us in small numbers; one in the garden this month, 

 September. 



Call ill Ilia Inichrosa (Black Moorhen). — Very plentiful in 

 days gone by, when they nested. Have not seen them for some 

 years now ; the last nest remembered was in 1904. The nest con- 

 tained eight eggs. 



Pnrpliyrrn welanotus (Eastern Bald Coot). — I have seen 

 these birds in 1SS5-6 come out of the flags and reeds like a mob 

 of sheep at sunset to feed alonsr the water's edge. They are 

 seldom seen now for the cover is gone. 



Fulica atra tasmanica (Eastern Coot). — During very big 

 floods when miles of country were under water these birds, 

 visited us in large parties. It is many years since they have 

 been seen. 



Podiceps crififatus (Australian Tipjier C.rebe). — The writer 

 can remember these birds very distinctly, for they were often 

 seen in the swamp in the early days. 



Tarhyhaptiis ritficoUis iiovaehollandiar ( Black-throated 

 Crebe). — Was to he seen all through the year, in the large open 

 waters in the winter, and in the dee}» dai-k pools fringed by Iiigli 

 reeds and flags in the summer. 



/'oliorrphaliis poliocephahts (Hoary-heaih^d ("JrebeK — .\ com- 

 mon bird in the old days; visits us occasionally now. 



drlncludidon nilotica iitacrofarsa (Australian Gull-billed 

 Tern). — Often seen in small parties skimming over the water. 

 Hardly ever absent in the early days during tlood times. 



