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Ihis elegant little Rail has a wide geographical distribution. According to Mr. Gould it is universally 
spread over the whole of Australia, Tasmania, and the islands in Bass’s Strait. It also occurs in the 
Society, Tonga, and Fiji groups, and probably over the whole extent of the Polynesian archipelago. 
It is sparingly dispersed with us over both Islands, frequenting wet and swampy localities, and especially 
the dense beds of raupo {Typha angustifoUa), which afford it abundant shelter. Its compressed form 
enables it to thread its way among the close-growing reed-stems with wonderful celerity ; and although 
its low purring note (resembling that of a brood hen) may sometimes be heard on every side, it is 
extremely difficult to obtain a glimpse of the bird. Its body weighs only two ounces ; and its attenuated 
toes are well adapted for traversing the oozy marsh in search of its food, which consists of small fresh- 
water mollusks, insects, seeds of aquatic plants, and the tender blades of various grasses. It seldom 
takes wing, and then only for a very short distance ; but it runs with rapidity, swims very gracefully, 
and often dives to escape its enemies. 
Mr. Cheeseman writes to me I had supposed that this bird had disappeared from the vicinity 
of Auckland, but only a few months ago (1881) Mr. Symons sent me a specimen shot in the mangrove- 
swamps of Shoal Bay, quite close to Devonport. He assures me that he frequently sees the bird 
there. I have received specimens from Raglan and the Waikato.” 
It is still comparatively plentiful in a marshy spot near the mouth of the Ngaruhe creek, in the 
Hawke’s Bay district. After leaving the Petane village for the Maori settlement a few miles inland, 
the traveller passes over a sandy belt of some extent separating the ocean from a picturesque lagooii 
called Tangoio, deeply fringed and almost choked in some places with the luxuriant raupo vegetation. 
At the time of my last visit the weather was beautifully fine, there being not a breath of wind to 
ripple the surface of the lake, on the glassy face of which the fern-clad hills above, with their patches 
of native evergreen, were reflected as in a natural mirror. Amongst these raupo sedges the Swamp- 
Rail has its home, and may be heard, on every side, producing the peculiar purring note which denotes 
Its presence, although the bird itself is so rarely visible. From this locality I have received some fine 
specimens through the courtesy of Mr. Hamilton, who resides in the neighbourhood. 
Mr. Gould was never able to find the nest or eggs in Australia, nor have I been more successful 
in New Zealand ; but on one occasion I was fortunate enough to secure a brood of four newly hatched 
chicks. The old birds took refuge in a bramble-bush ; but on hearing the feeble cheep of their 
captured offspring they left cover, and, under a good running shot, I secured them both. The young 
birds, before they were caught, ran briskly, and, taking immediately to a ditch of water, endeavoured 
to elude further pursuit by diving. 
For specimens of this bird I have been chiefly indebted to a good-natured household cat, who 
was accustomed to bring them in killed, but otherwise undamaged, and allow herself to be robbed of 
her prey. Surely this cat merits an apotheosis in the Colonial Museum ! 
An egg of the Swamp-Rail in the Canterbury Museum is broadly elliptical in form, measuring 
1-3 by -95 of an inch, and is of a uniform pale creamy brown, minutely and obscurely freckled over 
the entire surface with a darker tint. The shell is slightly glossed. 
