Birds. 149 



This figure is taken from a young bird. 



Watling gives the following note : " This is a recluse and 

 solitary bird, being never found in more than pairs. It has but 

 one simple plaintive tone which it never varies. The drawing is 

 about one fourth the natural size. This appears a variety of the 

 Red Bill, which is the common name it goes by here, or it is a 

 young one, full plumage, for most others have had the legs as red 

 as the bill. It frequents the sea shores and lives on spawn and 

 young fish, both shell and others, which gives the flesh a fat, of 

 which it has a great share. It is a strong fish of an oily flavour ; 

 both the flesh and fat are very high coloured, particularly the 

 latter, which is mostly red and very abundant, as before noticed. 

 It is naked or bare of feathers one third up the thigh, its toes are 

 more fleshy and thick than sea-birds' in general, and are a little 

 way connected by a web or membrane in so much that they may 

 be called palmated. Native name Soo-aning or Boo-viing." 



No. 256. Blue-necked Rail, variety. Lath. MS. ; id., Gen. 

 Hist. B., ix., p. 377 (1824). 

 Porzana palustris (Gould), Sharpe, Cat. B., xxiii., p. 109. 



Watling gives the following note : " The natural size. The 

 spur or hook near the pinion cannot in common be seen, but in 

 the drawing it is separated from the feathers where they can 

 conceal it." 



No. 257. Dark Rail, Lath. MS.; id., Gen. Hist. B., ix., p. 378 

 (1824). 

 Tabuan Rail, Lath., Gen. Syn., iii., pai't i., p. 235. 

 Porzana tabuensis (Gm.), Sharpe, Cat. B., xxiii., p. 111. 



Although Latham had himself described the " Tabuan Rail," 

 he apparently did not recognise this figure, which is evidently 

 intended to represent the same species. 



Watling says : " A bird of Norfolk Island. Natural size. 

 December." 



No. 258. White Gallinule, complete. Lath., Gen. Syn., 

 Suppl. ii., p. 327. 

 Notornis alba (White), Sharpe, Cat. B., xxiii., p. 208. 



Watling's note is as follows : " One third its natural size. 

 This bird is of Howe Island, and when young was entirely black, 

 from that to bluish-grey, and from that to an entire white. This 

 bird feeds itself with its feet like a Parrot." 



No. 259. Three changes of the White Gallinule. 



Watling's note is as follows : " Three stages of this bird taken 

 at Lord Howe's Island before it arrives at maturity." 



