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Family RALLID^E. 
Of this family no less than sixteen species inhabit Australia, and 
are comprised in the following genera, viz. Porphyrio , Fulica , Gal- 
linula , Rallies 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. 
525. Porphyrio melanotus, Tenon Yol. VI. PI. 69. 
526. Porphyrio bellus, Gould Yol. YI. PI. 70. 
Genus Tribonyx. 
527. Tribonyx Mortieri, IMPus Vol. YI. PI. 71. 
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Yan Diemen’s Land. 
528. Tribonyx ventralis, Gould Vol. YI. 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 Ade- 
laide, 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. 
The true Gallinulce are very numerous, and are found in nearly 
every part of the world. Australia is inhabited by a species peculi- 
arly its own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent. 
529. Gallinula tenebrosa, Gould Vol. YI. PI. 73. 
Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of 
Europe, Gallinula chloropus. 
Genus Fulica. 
Fulicce are found in nearly every part of the great continents of 
Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and one species in Australia. 
530. Fulica Australis, Gould Vol. VI. PI. 74. 
This bird, which is strictly confined to Australia, is rather smaller 
than its European ally. 
