330 BALLID^. 



■which predominate at the larger end of the egg. Length (A) 1 -4 

 X 1-03 inch; (B) 1'42 x 1-02 inch. 



Hah. Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 

 Districts, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, 

 Tasmania, West and South- West Australia. {Bamsay.) 



RALLINA TRICOLOR, Gray. 

 Eed-necked Rail. 

 Gould, Suppl. Bds. Aust., p. 78.) TJTT ^ 



" I found this fine species of Rail by no means rare in the dense 

 scrubs which fringe the rivers and creeks of the coast range near 

 Rockingham Bay ; but although tolerably plentiful, they are 

 always very difficult to obtain, on account of the nature of the 

 localities they frequent, and their retiring disposition. They are 

 seldom to be seen without lying in wait for them, and not always 

 then can one obtain a shot, except, perhaps, at such close quarters 

 as would entirely destroy them. They move about more in the 

 evenings and early morn, and at night may be heard calling to one 

 another as they traverse the dense masses of rank vegetation 

 which abound in those districts. I never met with them out of 

 these scrubs, although thick swampy grass-beds close by were 

 frequented by allied species. They seem very local in their habits 

 a pair frequenting the same spot for many months or perhaps the 

 whole year round, and breeding near the same place year after 

 year ; the young soon begin to take care of themselves, and leave 

 the parents before they are well able to fly. I found them some 

 four or five months old in pairs. The note resembles a hoarse 

 croak quickly repeated in a somewhat mournful tone, and a quick 

 " cluck cluck " when come upon suddenly. I was not fortunate 

 enough to find the nest and eggs myself, but shortly after I left 

 the Herbert River, I received a fine set of these eggs from 

 Inspector Robert Johnstone, to whom the bird is well known, and 

 who assures me that after finding the nest and eggs he left it 

 until he had twice seen the bird sitting thereon, that he might be 



