BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 115 



Eggs. Clutch four usually; lengthened oval in shape; tex- 

 ture line; surface glossy; colour greyish- white, mottled with chest- 

 nut. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: (1) 27 x 20.5, (2) 27.5 

 x 21, (3) 26.75 x 20, (4) 28 x 21.5. 



Breeding Season. October to December, perhaps January. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, New South Wales, 

 South and Western Australia, Queensland; also New Zealand, and 

 many islands in the South Pacific, up to the Philippines. 



Observations. To the best of my knowledge this is the rarest 

 of the Rails and Crakes in Tasmania; as a matter of fact, in none 

 of its habitats is it at all plentiful. Frequently this species is 

 known as the Tabuan Water Crake. In its general habits and 

 food it much resembles the other species previously discussed. 



" Its compressed form enables it to thread its way among the 

 close-growing reed-stems with wonderful celerity; and although 

 its low purring note (resembling that of a brood hen) may some- 

 times be heard on every side, it is extremely difficult to obtain a 

 glimpse of the bird. Its body weighs only two ounces ; and its 

 attenuated toes are well adapted for traversing the oozy marsh 

 in search of its food, which consists of small fresh-water molluscs, 

 insects, seeds of aquatic plants, and the tender blades of various 

 grasses. It seldom takes wing, and then only for a very short 

 distance; but it runs with rapidity, swims very gracefully, and 

 often dives to escape its enemies " (Sir W. Buller). 



NATIVE-HEN 

 (Tribonyx mortieri, Du Bus). 



Male. Upper surface greyish-olive, lightly washed with chest- 

 nut-brown on the crown of the head and back of the neck, and 

 distinctly tinged with the same colour on the back, rump, and 

 upper tail coverts; tail black; wing coverts greenish-grey, tinged 

 witn olive, the median series tipped with white; primary coverts 

 and quills blackish-brown, edged with reddish-brown; under sur- 

 face bluish-slate, becoming blackish on the abdomen and under 

 tail coverts ; conspicuous patch of white on the flanks ; sides of the 

 body brownish; thighs purplish-grey; irides ruby; bill yellowish- 

 green; legs and feet yellowish. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 

 500; bill, 39; wing, 190; tail, 95; tarsus, 77. 



Female. Similar to male save that the chestnut-brown on the 

 back is less pronounced. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 445; 

 bill, 39; wing, 190; tail, 95; tarsus, 77. 



Nest. Flat and shallow; a variety of substances enter into its 

 composition, depending largely on its situation. When it is half 

 afloat, either in a swamp or under shelter of a bank of a creek, 

 it is composed of grass or aquatic herbage ; when on the bank 

 of a river or stream at the base of a tree or among briers, leaves, 

 twigs, and grass are used. 



