1284 A GLIMPSE OF THE POST-TERTIARY AVIFAUNA OF QUEENSLAND, 
third. These characters exclude from consideration the Passeres, 
Raptores, Psittaci, Rasores, Tantalidie, and Ardeidaj, as well as the 
Plovers, Pelecanida?, and Penguins. The scar for the first meta- 
tareal is distinct, and forbids refei'enceto the Anseres and Grebes 
The combined features are those of a representative of the Rallidie. 
The rotular groove for the third toe is truncated on reaching the 
palmar surface, and the rotular surface for the second is as afore- 
said entirely proximad of that for the third. Such is nearly 
the case in Porphyria, and to that genus the bird, a coot of about 
the same size as Porphyria melnnntus, may, with some diffidence 
however, be referred. The differences observable on comparing it 
with its homotax in P. melanotus are great, and possibly of more 
than specific import. The trochlear surface for the third toe is less 
expanded but its groove is deeper. It is more distinctly truncated 
in an outwardly oblique direction, the inner lip of the groove 
being shorter than the outer. The articular surface for the second 
toe is also smaller, moie feebly grooved, and it is inclined more 
sti’ongly outward.s. The fourth toe is more distant from the third. 
The concavity of the palmar surface of the shaft extends but to a 
short distance from the calcaneal tubercle, below it the shaft is 
trihedral. On tiie anterior side there is but little difference beyond 
a greater depth of the concavity of the [U’oximal end near the 
fracture. 
Gallinula strenuipes, n.sp. 
(PI. xxxiv. figs. 8a, 8b.) 
Lt'fi tarso-metatarse. — To avoid a tedious repetition of dis- 
criminating processes this bone may at once be associated with the 
Rallidse. The shaft is sub-cpiadrate in section, and the calcaneal 
])i’Ocess is not cuneiform at its distal end. On these grounds the 
fossil may be denied admittance into the genus Porphyria. The 
degree of development of the calcaneal process, and the breadth 
of the distal expansion, both greater in Gallinula than in Fulica, 
may determine its reference to the former genus. It is a little 
less than one-fifth longer than the corresponding bone in Gallinula 
tenehrosa, but in its relatively larger calcaneal ridge, stronger shaft 
and broader articulating surfaces for the toes, it shows a species 
