40 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Black Moor Hen. 



Gallinula tenehrosa. 



Australia and New Guinea. 



Colour above dusky olive-brown, tail black; head, neck and under 

 surface of the body dark slaty grey; under tail coverts white, long centre 

 ones black. Frontal plate of bill orange; above the knee a. band of 

 yellow and scarlet. Total length 14.5 inches, culmen with frontal shield 

 1.8, wing 8, tail 2.8, tarsus 2.3, middle toe and claw 3.6. 



Nest made of coarse herbage and lined with fine bark or 

 grass, and situated among the thick rushes over water, or at 

 base of tree in a swamp, or on a log. The eggs number from 

 seven to eleven, ground colour stone, blotched with reddish- 

 brown markings. They measure about 1.96 x 1.34 inch. 



The Dark-grey Moor Hen. 



Gallinula frontata. 



New Guinea, Moluccas, Celebes, South-east Borneo, and North 

 Australia. 



Similar to G. tenebrosa, but darker grey above and below, and 

 distinguished by the red colour of the toes resembling that of the tarsi; 

 bill and frontal shield red, excepting the terminal third, which is yellow; 

 feet red and joints greenish, bare part of tibia olive-green behind; iris 

 black. Total length 14 inches, culmen and frontal shield 1.7.5, wing 7, 

 tail 2.5, tarsus 2.15, middle toe and claw 3.4. 



The Blue Bald Coot. 



Porphyrio hellus. 

 Western Australia. 



Back black, shade of greenish-blue on throat and foreneck; thighs 

 purplish like the flanks; bill red; knees, lower part of tarsi greenish grey, 

 remainder of feet and legs dark green. Total length 17.5 inches, culmen 

 with shield 3, wing 10.6, tail 3.6, tarsus 3.6, middle toe and claw 4.6. 



Nest made of rushes and water plants, leaves, &c., and 

 situated over or near water. The eggs are from four to six 

 and are stone colour, blotched with brownish markings of 

 varying shades ; they measure 2.24 x 1.60 inch. 



The Bald Coot. 



Porphyrio melanonotus. 



Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island 

 and New Guinea. 



