BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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Notes. — Also called Slate-breasted Rail, Short-toed Rail, and Pectoral 
Rail. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting swamps and the reed-lined 
margins of streams. It is exceedingly shy and retiring in habits, and 
difficult of observation. If flushed, it rarely flies far, but seeks refuge 
among the tall grasses. When in flight its long legs hang down, and, 
although not web-footed, it swims with great facility and dives if closely 
pursued. It utters an alarm note, resembling “Creek” or “Crick,” when 
startled. Food: worms, freshwater snails, and insects of various kinds. 
Nest. — A shallow, saucer-shaped structure, composed of coarse plant- 
stalks and grass-stems, and well concealed among tall rushes, grass, or 
aquatic plants. 
Eggs. — Three to five, occasionally more, dull white or warm creamy- 
white, covered with freckles, streaks, spots, and blotches of purplish- 
brown, chestnut-brown, and violet-grey markings. Breeding-season : 
August to December. 
7. Red-necked Rail Rallina tricolor Gray 
Rall-t-na — N.L., rallina , rail: tri-col- or — L., tricolor , three-coloured. 
Distribution. — Northern Queensland (coastal) ; also occurs in the 
Aru Islands and New Guinea. 
Notes. — Also called Tricoloured Rail. Usually singly or in pairs, 
frequenting the dense tropical scrubs bordering creeks or on the sides of 
stony ridges. It appears to be migratory, arriving in northern Australia 
at the beginning of the wet season. Generally it is shy and difficult to 
observe. Its call is a loud shriek, many times repeated, resembling “Kare, 
kare, kare,” and another short sharp note like “Tock, tock, tock.” Food: 
insects and freshwater animals of various kinds. 
Nest. — A hole scooped in the ground, in which a few dead leaves are 
placed; generally situated at the foot of a tree. 
Eggs. — Four or five, pure white. Breeding-season: January to April. 
8. Banded Landrail Hypotcenidia philippensis Linne 
Hy'-po-t(B-nid'-i-a — Gk, hypo, under; Gk, tainidion, small band: philip- 
pensis — of the Philippine Islands. 
Distribution. — Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in the 
Philippine Islands to New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. 
Notes . — Also called Buff-banded Landrail, Landrail, Painted Rail, 
Pectoral Rail, and Corn-crake. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting 
scrub and rank herbage in swampy localities, also the margins of streams 
and cultivation paddocks. It is shy and wary, being difficult to observe; 
it rarely takes to the wing, evading its enemies by running. When startled, 
it utters an alarm note, “Krek,” which is instantly answered bv other birds 
in the vicinity. Food : insects, seeds, small freshwater molluscs, and the 
green shoots of various plants. 
Nest. — A flat structure, composed of dried grasses and herbage, and 
generally placed in or near a tussock of grass or among herbage. 
Q 
