CHbiNERY ^- MORGAN— Dinh of Rivers Murraij S^- l>arUv<j. 43 



Microtribonyx ventralis (Black-tailed Native Hen) — Very 

 plentiful in the seasons of 1917, 1918, and 1919, along the rivers 

 and around tanks. Flocks of thousands were to be seen, and 

 they proved very destructive to all green feed and crops of 

 lucerne; a few odd pairs bred, because young ones were seen, 

 but no nests with eggs were taken. 



Gallinulu tcncbrosa (Dusky Moor Hen) — Occasional birds 

 are to be seen along the rivers at all times. But in 1917 they 

 were in numbers in the Lake Victoria district, and bred freely 

 in the "polygonum" swamps. The largest clutch found was 

 seven eggs. 



Porphyrio melanotus (Bald Coot) — Usually a rare bird, 

 but in 1917 they were in numbers on the swamps about Lake 

 V^ictoria. They bred in that year. 



Fulica ofra taxmnnica (Coot) — Always a few birds about, 

 but very plentiful in 1917. They bred freely in the Lake Vic 

 toria and Rufus Creek swamps in that year. Clutches varied 

 from five to nine eggs. 



r()(U((/)s ci-isfdtiis cJnisI ill ni ( Tip])et (irebei — riicoiiiiiion.. 

 They have been seen on the Anabranch, at Lake Victoria and 

 at Knlkyne Lakes; not found breeding. 



Tachybaptus ruficoUi^ (Black-throated Grebe) — Found on 

 the river swamps, and also in the tanks far from the river. 



PolioccphalKs polioccphalus (Hoary-headed (h-ebe or Dab- 

 chick) — Found in the same situations as the last. 



H !/ffrf)cJir1ifI()ii Iciicopurcia Marsh Tern I — Occurred in 

 flocks on the Darling Swamps in 1917; they were not known 

 to breed. 



Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa (Gull-billed Tern) — In 

 1917 they were very plentiful in the flooded country near Went- 

 worth. Many nests were found on a snifill flooded area, about 

 10 miles rroni the lown. The usual clutih was \\\o eggs, but 

 there were a few clutches of t^ree. The eggs were laid on the 

 bare gi^ound, with a little drift debris around them. They 

 bred in November. Last year odd birds were seen on sandspits of 

 the Murray, and a single biid was seen at Belmore. on a tank 

 about 30 miles from the river. 



Bruchifjnvia novaehoUandiae (vSilver Gull) — Generally odd 

 birds are to be seen along the river, and on the swamps and 

 lakes. Not breeding. 



