324 
RALLIDiE. 
Genus TRIBONYX, Du Bus. 
TRIBONYX MORTIERI, Dn Bus. 
(T. gouldii, Sclater.) 
Mortier's Tribonyx. 
Gould, HandBds. Amt., Vol. ii., sp. 565, p. 324. 
This bird is found on the southern portions of the continent of 
Australia, but Tasmania is its great stronghold. Like T. vcntralis 
it resorts to the margins of rivers and lakes to breed ; and the 
nest is formed of reeds and other aquatic herbage. Eggs seven 
in number for a sitting, oval in form, of a light stone colour minutely 
freckled and sparingly blotched and spotted with rounded markings 
of different shades of chestnut-brown, a few of which appear as if 
beneath the surface of the shell; others have irregularly-shaped 
markings and hair-like lines, particularly towards the larger end. 
Dimensions of two eggs in the Australian Museum Collection, 
length (A) 2T8 x 1-48 inches; (B) 2-23 x 1-5 inches. 
A set in the Dobroyde Collection measure as follows :—length 
(A) 2-2 x 1-57 inches; (B) 2-2 x 1-47 inches; (C) 2*19 x 1*47 
inches; (D) 2-12 x 1-53 inches; (E) 2-27 x 1-48 inches; (F) 2-28 
x 1-5 inches; (G) 2 - 25 x 1-54 inches. 
This bird breeds during September andthefour following months. 
Hah. Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania. (Ramsay.) 
TRIBONYX VENTRALIS, Gould. 
Black-tailed Tribonyx. 
Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 566, p. 325. 
“ Mr. Gould has I think described the eggs of some other water- 
fowl, probably those of G. tenebrosa, under this name; they are 
certainly not those of the present bird, which are very distinct, 
the nest is like that of a Gallinnla and similarly placed. They 
breed in October and the two following months, also in January 
and February. When the back country is flooded these birds 
litterally overrun it and breed at almost any time of the year, the 
