330 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



be a matter of surprise, when we have seen how many of 

 the forms hitherto considered to be pecuhar to the northern 

 hemisphere are represented in that country ; and in no in- 

 stance is this law more interestingly carried out than in the 

 present, since the two birds are not only identical in form, 

 but are precisely alike in their habits and general economy. 



The favourite places of resort of the Australian Coot are 

 the inland waters of the country and the salt-water lagoons 

 near the coast, which it seldom quits unless to seek for a. 

 more abundant supply of food, consisting of aquatic insects, 

 small shelled mollusks, &c. Like the European species, it 

 constructs a floating nest of decayed aquatic plants, upon 

 which it deposits its eggs and rears its young. 



Head and neck black ; all the upper surface greyish black ; 

 imder surface sooty black ; irides bright red ; bill light bluish 

 grey ; crown of the head greenish white ; legs and feet french 

 grey. 



Total length 14 inches ; bill 1^ ; wing 8 ; tail 2^ ; tarsi 2:^. 



Genus PARRA, Latham. 



A tropical form of birds, admirably adapted for progression 

 among the aquatic plants and floating leaves of the lagoons 

 and inland waters they frequent, and over which they pass with 

 facility, their expansive feet spreading over a large surface of 

 fallen grasses and leaves, readily sustaining them. 



Species of this genus are found in India, Africa, and America. 



Sp. 569. PARRA GALLINACEA, Temm. 



CoMB-CRESTED PaRRA. 



Parra galUnacea, Temm. PI. Col., 464. 

 Mur-re-ma-rang-geit, Aborigines of Port Essington. 



Parra gallinacea, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. pi. 75. 

 The Parra gallinacea is one of the most typical members of 



