PLATE VII. 



GENUS PORZANA. (Vieill) 



THE Rorzance are a genus of birds having representatives in every quarter of the globe, those in Australia very 

 closely resembling the Indian and European species. Like the Rails, they construct open nests of grass, 

 reeds, or other aquatic vegetation, disposed among rushes or herbage in creeks or swamps, or on the banks 

 of rivers. The clutch averages about four or five eggs. 



PORZANA TABUENSIS. (Gmei.) 



TABU AN WATER CRAKE. Genus: Porzana. 



THIS Crake is more widely distributed than any other, not merely in Australia, but over the Polynesian Islands 

 of Society, Tonga, and Piji ; and, as a consequence, has received more " specific appellations " than any 

 other Rail. 



Its habits are similar to those of other Crakes, and, though tolerably abundant, is seldom seen. It 

 swims readily if forced to take to the water, and sports about among the floating leaves of aquatic plants with 

 much grace, in search of snails and other mollusks, of which its food consists, with the addition of insects, seeds, 

 young grass, and other vegetable stuffs. Only on compulsion does it fly. 



Gould never succeeded in getting any eggs, and was of opinion that they would prove when found to 

 differ from the eggs of the typical Rorzance, and also from the true Pails. In this Mr. Campbell has proved him 

 to be mistaken, as he writes : " The eggs of the Little Crake and the Tabuan undoubtedly appear to be typical 

 of the true Rorzance as contrasted with the Spotted Crake and White-eyebrowed, which appear oologically different, 

 and, as Dr. Putter remarks, with reference to the last-named, they approach in their type those of the 

 GallinulmcB, and form a well-defined oological sub-group of the family Rallidce, or Pails." The nest of the Tabuan 

 is found near water, constructed of soft grass, and generally situated under a thick tussock of grass, on the 

 lee side, where it droops over. The complement of eggs appear to be four in number. Egg, in shape, obtuse ; ground 

 colour, dirty white, streaked and mottled all over with light brown and light chestnut. Length, one inch two 

 lines ; breadth, eleven lines. 



In appearance this Crake differs slightly in its outlines from its congeners, being a much fuller-bodied 

 bird, with longer legs, and shorter thighs and claws. 



The sexes are alike, and the young when fully fledged are hardly to be distinguished from their parents. 



All under surfaces, dark slate grey ; the throat, washed with a lighter shade ; all upper surfaces, rich 

 ferruginous brown, growing more brown on tail and wings ; irides, red ; bill, black ; feet and legs, dull brick 

 red. 



Habitats : Rockingham Bay, Wide Bay District ; Richmond and Clarence River Districts, New South 

 Wales Victoria and South Australia ; Tasmania ; West and South- West Australia. 



