342 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



versally distributed over the whole of Australia, Tasmania and 

 the islands in Bass's Straits. Specimens from every one of 

 the colonies so closely resemble each other that they scarcely 

 exhibit sufficient difference to constitute local varieties. Be- 

 sides inhabiting Australia, this species appears to be widely 

 spread over many of the islands of the Indian Ocean, such as 

 the Society, Tonga, and Feejees ; and I question if any one of 

 the Rails has received so many specific appellations, or if there 

 be one whose synonyms are so numerous. (See a list of them in 

 Mr. G. R. Gray's 'Catalogue of the Birds of the Tropical Islands 

 of the Pacific Ocean in the Collection of the British Museum,' 

 p. 53.) Like the other members of this group, this bird is very 

 recluse in its habits, and seldom to be seen, although it is 

 tolerably abundant in all districts of a wet and swampy cha- 

 racter, where thick reed-beds and the sedgy banks of rivers 

 or lagoons constitute its most favourite places of abode. 

 When urged by necessity, it swims with grace and elegance, 

 and sports about with ease among the floating leaves of 

 aquatic plants in search of snails and other mollusks, of which, 

 with insects, seeds, and the tender blades of grasses and other 

 vegetables, its food consists. It rarely takes wing, scarcely 

 ever indeed unless forced to do so. 



I regret that I did not succeed in finding the nest and 



eggs of this bird, as in all probability they will be found to 



differ from those of the typical ForzancB^ and also from those 



of the true Rails. 



The sexes are precisely alike in colour, and the young, 



when fully fledged, are very similar to the adults. 



Head and all the under surface dark slate-grey, becoming 



nearly white on the chin ; back, wing-coverts, and tertiaries 



rich deep reddish brown ; bill black ; irides and eyelash 



bright red ; feet and legs dull brick-red. 



