24 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
the general wetness of the neighbourhood. On a 
brilliant autumnal morning I was strolling with two 
companions and a fox-terrier across this depression, 
when suddenty, midway in the long soft grass, the 
dog sprang at something which we thought was a 
rat, till in a moment he reappeared bearing in his 
mouth the first and last live Tabuan Crake I ever 
saw. Another local specimen, obtained by Mr. 
Mulder, is in the Geelong Museum. I know no in- 
stance of the finding of nest or eggs. 
BLACK-TAILED NATIVE-HEN 
Microtribonyx ventralis whitei 
Dry indeed must the season be in the north, and 
uncommonly wet in these parts, before the Native- 
hen comes to join the Waterfowl of the Lower Barwon 
and the Lakes. It is about the size of a smallish do- 
mestic hen, having the upper surface brownish olive, 
under surface dark bluish grey, with white markings 
on the flank-feathers. The middle toe and claw 
measure 2-i- inches. Bill and frontal plate are apple- 
green, feet not webbed. Across the Murray in 
Riverina it is a resident and breeding species. 
During two years spent in the Goulburn Valley 
I observed on more than one occasion a southward 
irruption, for it is no less, of these quaint and fowl-like 
creatures. They seemed attracted thither by irriga- 
tion floodings as elsewhere by natural floods, and in 
