326 HALhVDM, 



GALLINULA RUFICRISSA, Gould. 

 KufoTis-vented GaJIintQe. ' 

 Gould, Suppl. Bds. Aust., pi. 79. 



" A single egg of this species in the Dobroyde Collection, is of 

 a dull white ground colour, finely freckled all over with light 

 chestnut-red markings, a few nearly obsolete spots of the same 

 colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell more 

 particularly towards the larger end. Long axis 1-6 inch, short 

 axis 1 -2 inch." (North, P.LS., N.S. IF., Vol. ii., 2nd Series, p. 446.) 

 Sab. Port Denison,Wide Bay District, South Coast New Guinea. 

 ■•) 



♦ 



Genus FULICA, Linnwus. 



FULICA AUSTRALIS, Gould. 

 Australian Coot. 

 Gould, Hcmdhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 568, p. 329. 



This species is widely distributed over the continent of Australia 

 and is also found in Tasmania. It frequents the lagoons near the 

 coast, and is very abundant in the interior during wet seasons. In 

 the neighbourhood of Melbourne I found it breeding very freely, 

 commencing in August and continuing till the end of February. 

 The nest is built on a platform of rushes just above the surface of 

 the water, and is composed of various aquatic plants. Four nests 

 of this species taken on the 28th of October 1873, each contained 

 seven eggs, which is the usual number for a sitting ; the eggs are 

 of a pale stone colour, minutely freckled and spotted all over the 

 surface of the shell with rounded purplish-black markings. 



Dimensions of two eggs in the Australian Museum Collection 

 are as follows : — length (A) 1-9 x 1'35 inch; (B) 1-98 x 1-4 inch. 



A set of eight in the Dobroyde Collection, taken by Mr. Edward 

 Lord Ramsay at Wattagoona, near Louth, New South Wales, 

 measure as follows :— length (A) V92 x 1-33 inch ; (B) 1-95 x 1'35' 



i 



