^"','^7''l Alexander, Ohservations at Bremer Bay (W.A.) 27 



coloration of these is difficult to describe in words, as they arc \'cry 

 parti-coloured, the joints being brown, while the centres of the tarsi 

 and of each of the phalanges are light brick-red. In this connection 

 I may perhaps point out that the figure of Porphyria bellus in the 

 same work shows a bird with uniformly green legs, whereas they are 

 usually parti-coloured, the joints alone being green, while the centres 

 of thetarsi and of the phalanges are red. This may be the explanation 

 of the sub-species of Porphyrio melanonofus, described as inhabiting 

 Western Australia, which is stated to be distinguished from P. helhis 

 by the possession of red legs.* The Black Moor-Hen (Gallinula 

 tenebrosa) has also parti-coloured legs, the joints being green and the 

 front portion of the tarsi and phalanges orange-red. Is this type of 

 coloration universal in this family ? 



Black Moor- Hen {Gallinula tenebrosa). — Reported as seen on the 

 Hunter River by one of the party, but not seen by me. 



Coot (Fulica atra). — A few seen on a small lake near the Hunter. 



Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus^. — A single bird in full 

 plumage was seen on the Hunter River, and it remained on the surface 

 long enough to give us an excellent view. It then dived, and, though 

 a sharp look-out was kept for it, was not seen again. As already 

 mentioned, the dead trees in the water provided plenty of cover on 

 this lake fmiscalled a river^. 



Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalns). — Numerous on 

 all the sheets of water. On several occasions when we ascended the 

 estuary a little flock of these birds kept flying ahead of the boat 

 instead of taking refuge in the usual way by diving. The flights 

 gradually became shorter as the birds obviously tired, until after 

 about a mile thev summoned up courage to turn and fly back past 

 (ho boat. 



Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne tschegrava). — Small flocks were fre- 

 quently seen on the estuary. It is perhaps worth noting that Crested 

 Terns (Thalasseus bergii') were not seen either on the estuary or on 

 the sea-coast during the three weeks, yet they are common in the 

 harbour at Albany, and are the most plentiful sea-bird on the coast 

 near Fremantle and on the Swan River except for Shags. 



White-faced Ternlet (Sternula nereis). — Flocks were frequently seen 

 flying oxer the shallows at the lower end of the estuary. 



Silver Gul! {Bvuchigavia novcBhollandicB). — Frequently seen. 



Pacific Gull {Gabianus pacificus). — A few were generally to be seen 

 on the coast. Towards the end of our stay two adults and five young 

 birds in very dark plumage took up their quarters at the mouth of 

 the estuary, and were constantly to be seen wading about in the shallows 

 or flying. They seemed not to care for swimming, for if they were 

 wading in any direction, and the water became too deep, they would 

 lake to the wing. 



Pied Oyster-catcher (Hcsmatopus ostralegus). — About a dozen were 

 almost always to be seen by day, resting on a sand-bank in the middle 

 of the estuary. Their feeding seemed to be done at night, as they 

 were generally heard flying past the camp after dark.. 



Blaclc Oyster-catcher {Hamatopus niger). — A few solitary l^rds 

 were seen on the rocks in the bay. 



* Austral Avian Record, vol. i., p. 29 (1912). 



