INTRODUCTION. 
Ixxxix 
Family RALLIDyE, Leach. 
Of this family no less than sixteen species inhabit Australia, and are comprised in the following genera, viz. 
Porphyrio, Fuliea, Gallinula, Rallus and Porzana, all of which are European forms ; and Parra, Eulabeornis and 
Tribonyx : of the latter, the first is common to India and the Indian Islands, and the other two are confined, so far 
as we know, to Australia. 
Genus Porphyrio, Briss. 
525. Porphyrio melanotus, Temm. ............ Vol. VI. PL 69. 
526. Porphyrio bellus, Gould . Vol. VI. PI. 70. 
Genus Tribonyx, DuBus. 
527. Tribonyx Mortieri, DuBus , . Vol. VI. PI. 71. 
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen's Land. 
528. Tribonyx ventralis, Gom/<^ . . Vol. VI. PI. 72. 
Inhabits the interior of Australia. 
"This bird," says Captain Sturt, "appeared suddenly in South Australia in 1840. It came from the north, 
fresh flights coming up and pushing on those which had preceded them. It was moreover evident that they had 
been unaccustomed to the sight of man, for they dropped in great numbers in the streets and gardens of Adelaide 
and ran about like fowls. At last they increased so much in number as to swarm on all the waters and creeks, 
doing great damage to the crops in their neighbourhood. They took the entire possession of the creek near my 
house, and broke down and wholly destroyed about an acre and a quarter of wheat as if cattle had bedded on it. 
They made their first appearance in November, and left in the beginning of March, gradually retiring northwards 
as they had advanced." 
Genus Gallinula, Briss. 
The true GalUnulce are very numerous, and are found in nearly every part of the world. Australia is inha- 
bited by a species peculiarly its own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent. 
529. Gallinula tenebrosa, Gould Vol. VI. PL 73. 
Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of Europe, Gallinula chloropus. 
Genus Fulica, Linn. 
Fulica are found in nearly every part of the great continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and one 
species in Australia. 
530. Fuhca Australis, Gould Vol. VI. PL 74. 
This bird, which is strictly confined to Australia, is rather smaller than its European ally. 
Genus Parra, Linn. 
A tropical form, the structure of which is admirably adapted for progression over the aquatic plants and 
floating leaves of the lagoons and inland waters it frequents and over which it passes with facility ; its expansive 
feet, spreading over a large surface of fallen grasses and leaves, readily sustaining it, which they would not do were 
they of the ordinary form. 
Species of this form are found in India, Africa and America. 
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