GALLINULA. 
325 
eggs are four or five in number of a pale greenish tint with 
roundish spots of light reddish-brown sprinkled all over the surface, 
and are of an oblong pointed form. Length (A) 1 *85 x 1 '28 inch ; 
(B) 1-85 x 1-3 inch; (C) 1 '76 x 1-27 inch ; (D) 17 x 1*15 inch j 
(E) 1-88 x 1-3 inch.” (Ramsay, P.L.S., N.& IF., Vol. vii., p. 59.) 
Hab. Derby, N.W. Australia, Gulf of Carpentaria, Port Denison, 
New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia, West 
and South-West Australia. (Ramsay.) 
Genus GALLINULA, Brisson. 
GALLINULA TENEBROSA, Gould. 
Sombre G-allinule. 
Gould, Uandbk. lids. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 567, p. 328. 
This bird frequents the weedy margins of rivers and creeks, and 
is particularly plentiful oil the Richmond and Clarence Rivers. 
Mr. J. Macgillivray found a nest of this species in a bush on the 
edge of the latter river, on the 11th of January 1864; it was 
composed of rushes and other aquatic herbage, and contained four 
fresh eggs, rather rounded in form, of a pale creamy-white ground 
colour, freckled and blotched all over with reddish-chestnut and 
lilac spots, the former colour greatly predominating and becoming 
larger and more thickly disposed towards the thicker end of the 
egg. Length (A) D55 x D15 inch; (B) 1*53 X 1 -18 inch; (C) 
1-37 x 1-2 inch ; (D) D55 x 1*2 inch. 
Upon comparing these eggs with those of Gallinuln ruficrissa, 
(Gould) from Northern Australia, and with those of Amaurornis 
molucca/na, (Wallace), from New Britain, (the two latter of which 
are declared to be identical by some ornithologists) it will be 
seen that there is little or no variation in either their colour or 
measurements. 
Hab. Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence 
Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, 
and the South Coast New Guinea. (Ramsay.) 
