POEPHYKIO. 323 



eggs of a uniform very pale green, one kich and five-eighths long 

 by one inch and a quarter broad." (Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., 

 Vol. ii., p. 317. 



Hub. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 

 Richmond and Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, 

 South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



Family RALLID-SI. 



Genus POKPHYEIO, Brisson. 



-^ PORPHYRIO MELANOTUS, Temminck. 



Black-backed Porphyrio. 



Gmld, Handlh. Bds. Aust., Yol. ii., sp. 563, p. 321. 



" The nest of this species is a rough structure of rushes and 

 water-weeds &c., placed among the reeds in the lagoons, at a 

 considerable distance from the edge, just above water-mark. The 

 eggs are from three to five in number, of a light brown or yellowish 

 stone-colour, varying considerably in tint and in the shape of the 

 markings, but usually spotted and blotched with umber, dark 

 reddish-brown and slaty-grey. The young are of a uniform 

 blackish-slate colour on leaving the nest." (Ramsay, P.Z.S., 

 1877, p. 343.) 



Measurements of a set taken by Dr. Ramsay, from the Hexham 

 Swamps, in 1861, are as follows : — length (A) 2-07 x 1-4 inches ; 

 (B) 2-09 X 1-43 inches; (0) 2 x 141 inches; (D) 2-03 x 1-42 

 inches; (E) 2-05 x 1-45 inches. 



Hab. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Richmond 

 and Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Interior, 

 Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania. {Ramsay.) 



