110 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



actually associate with either of the birds mentioned above, it 

 is often found in the same districts, and all three species may 

 be procured in the course of a morning's walk in many parts of 

 New. South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, where it fre- 

 quents sterile, stony ridges, interspersed with scrubby trees and 

 moderately thick grass. It is also very common in many parts 

 of Tasmania suitable to its habits, hills of a moderate elevation, 

 and of a dry, stony character being the localities preferred. It 

 is also numerous on the sandy, sterile islands in Bass Strait. It 

 runs very quickly, and when flushed flies low, its pointed wings 

 giving it very much the appearance of a Snipe or Sandpiper. 

 When running or walking over the ground the neck is stretched 

 out, and the head carried very high, which, together with the 

 rounded contour of the back, gives it a very grotesque appear- 



ORDER FULICARI/E. 

 FAMILY-RALLID/E (8 species). 



*SLATE-BREASTED RAIL (LEWIN'S RAIL) 

 (Hypotcenidia brachypus, Swain.) 



Male. Crown of the head and hind-neck dull chestnut, 

 streaked with black; back, shoulders, and tail olive-brown, 

 streaked with black centres to the feathers ; the majority of the 

 wing coverts are black or olive-brown and black, all tipped and 

 barred with white; quills blackish-brown, external webs olive- 

 brown ; lower sides of neck olive-brown ; throat white ; breast 

 olive-brown to ashy-grey; lower breast and abdomen " isabelline" ; 

 sides of the body and flanks mostly barred with white or yellowish- 

 white ; bill brownish-red; legs and feet flesh colour or pale brown. 

 Dimensions in mm. : Length, 208; bill, 36; wing, 104; tail, 48; 

 tarsus, 32. 



Female. Similar to male. 



Young. " Similar to the adults, but much duller on the 

 upper surface, the vinous colour of the head and neck being 

 absent; throat whitish, remainder of under surface dark ashy; 

 centre of the breast whitish ; the sides of the body with a few 

 black feathers barred with white " (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. Situated in a swamp or on swampy ground by the side 

 of a rivulet, and composed of rushes and fine grass. The rushes 

 among which it is placed are usually drawn together overhead 

 to form a covering. Leading to the nest is a staging, always 

 placed some distance above the water. 



Eggs. Clutch four to five; roundish oval in shape; texture 

 of shell fine; surface glossy; colour pinkish-white, somewhat 



