182 



Chick. Covered with black down of a silky texture and delicately glossed with green. Bill black, with a 

 minute white spot near the tip of upper mandible ; irides and legs black. 



Obs. The sexes are precisely alike in plumage. 



This elegant little Rail has a wide geographical distribution. According to Mr. Gould it is 

 universally spread over the whole of Australia, Tasmania, and the islands in Bass's Strait. It 

 also occurs in the Society, Tonga, and Fiji groups, and probably over the whole extent of the 

 Polynesian archipelago. It is sparingly dispersed with us over both Islands, frequenting wet and 

 swampy localities, and especially the dense beds of raupo {Typha angustifolia), which afford it 

 abundant shelter. 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 sometimes 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 freshwater mollusks, 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. 



Mr. Gould was never able to find the nest or eggs in Australia, nor have I been more suc- 

 cessful in New Zealand ; but on one occasion I was fortunate enough to secure a brood of four 

 newly hatched chicks. The old birds took refuge in a bramble-bush ; but on hearing the feeble 

 cheep of their captured offspring they left cover, and, under a good running shot, I secured them 

 both. The young birds, before they were caught, ran briskly, and, taking immediately to a ditch 

 of water, endeavoured to elude further pursuit by diving. 



For specimens of this bird I have been chiefly indebted to a good-natured household cat, who 

 was accustomed to bring them in killed, but otherwise undamaged, and allow herself to be robbed 

 of her prey. Surely this cat merits an apotheosis in the Colonial Museum ! 



