PORZANA? IMMACULATA. 
Spotless Gallinule, 
Gallinula immaculata, Swains. An. in Menag., p. 337. — Ib. Class, of Birds, vol. ii. p. 358. 
War-ra-jah, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia. 
Little Sivamp Hen of the Colonists. 
I BELIEVE I am correct in stating that this species is universally distributed over the whole of Australia, 
Van Diemen’s Land, and the islands in Bass’s Straits. My collection contains specimens from every one of 
the colonies, all of which so closely resemble each other, that they scarcely exhibit sufficient difference to 
constitute local varieties. Like the other members of the group this bird is very recluse in its habits, and 
seldom to be seen, although it is tolerably abundant in all districts of a wet and swampy character, where 
thick reed-beds, and the sedgy banks of rivers or lagoons constitute its most favourite places of abode. 
When urged by necessity it swims with grace and elegance, and sports about with ease among the floating 
leaves of aquatic plants in search of snails and other mollusks, of which, with insects, seeds, and the 
tender blades of grasses and other vegetables, its food consists. It rarely takes wing, scarcely ever indeed 
unless forced to do so. 
Tlie sexes, which are precisely alike, may he thus described : — 
Head and all the under surface dark slate-grey, becoming nearly white on the chin ; back, wing-coverts 
and tertiaries rich deep reddish brown ; hill black ; irides and eyelash bright red ; feet and legs dull brick- 
red. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
