78 



GENUS GALLINULA. Middle toe longer than tarsus. 



589. G. tenebrosa, Old., Black Moor-hen (Sombre Gallinule). 



Dull greyish-black, except back and scapularies, which are deep 

 brown ; under tail coverts black in centre, white on sides ; base of 

 bill blood-red. 



Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 6. 



GEXUS PORPHYRIO. Nostrils rounded. 



590. P. bellllS, Gld., Blue Bald-Coot. 



Back black ; a distinct shade of verdigris-blue on throat and fore- 

 neck ; thighs purplish, like flanks ; bill red ; knees, lower par of 

 tarsus, and inside of feet dark greenish-grey ; remainder of feet and 

 legs dark green. 



Total length, 17'5 in. ; culmen, with frontal shield, 3 in. ; wing, 

 10 '6 in. ; tail, 3 '6 in. ; tarsus, 3 '6 in. 

 Hab. : 8, 9. 



591. P. melailonotllS, Temm. (P. melanotus), Bald-Coot. 



Frontal plate, bill, legs, and feet red ; no distinct patch of blue 

 on the throat ; the whole of under surface uniform blue ; inner 

 secondaries black or brown, sometimes olive-brown, like the rest of 

 the back. 



Hab. : 1 to 7. 



GENUS FULICA. Toes lobed laterally. 



592. F. australis, Gld., Coot. 



Head and neck black ; all upper surface greyish-black ; under 

 surface sooty-black ; bill bluish -grey. 

 Hab. : 1 to 9. 



ORDER ALECTORIBES. 



The angle of the mandible is always truncated ; the hind toe is raised 

 above the level of the other toes [Mesites (extra Australian) excepted]. 



FAMILY GRUIDJE. 



Palate schizognathous ; nasal depression more than half as long as the 

 maxilla ; rectrices twelve. 



GENUS ANTIGONE. Skin bare round a clear patch of ear coverts. 



593. A. australasiana, Gld. (Grus australasianus), Crane (Native 



Companion). 



Neck feathered right up to the nape ; inner secondaries grey, with 

 white bases ; general colour grey. 



Total length, 42 in. 



Hab. : 1 to 4, 6 to 9. 



FAMILY OTIDID^E. 



Bill flattened and obtuse ; palate schizognathous ; rectrices sixteen to 



twenty. 



GENUS EUPODOTIS. Feathers of neck and fore-neck elongated ; wing 

 three times longer than tarsus. 



594 E. australis, Grey, Bustard (Plain Turkey). 



A black patch across the chest or on the sides of it ; greater wing 

 coverts ashy-black, with a white spot at the end. 



Total length, 48 in. ; culmen, 3 in. ; wing, 26 in. ; tail, 10 '5 in. ; 

 tarsus, 7.2 in. 



Hab. : 1 to 4, 6 to 9. 



