326 
EALLID2E. 
GALLINULA RUFICRISSA, Gould, 
Rufous-vented Gallinule. 
Gould, Sv.ppL Bds. Aust., pi. 79. 
“A single egg of this species in the Dobroyde Collection, is of 
a dull white ground colour, finely freckled all over with light 
chestnut-red markings, a few nearly obsolete spots of the same 
colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell more 
particularly towards the larger end. Long axis 1-6 inch, short 
axis 1-2 inch.” (North, P.LS., N.S. W.,Yo\. ii., 2nd Series, p. 446.) 
Hah. Port Denison, Wide Bay District, South Coast New Guinea. 
{Ramsay.) 
Genus FULICA, Linnaeus. 
PULICA AUSTRALIS, Gould. 
Australian Coot. 
Goidd, Handbh. Rds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 508, p. 329. 
This species is widely distributed over the continent of Australia 
and is also found in Tasmania. It frequents the lagoons near the 
coast, and is very abundant in the interior during wet seasons. In 
the neighbourhood of Melbourne I found it breeding very freely, 
commencing in August and continuing till the end of Pobruary. 
The nest is built on a platform of rushes just above the surface of 
the water, and is composed of various aquatic plants. Four nests 
of this species taken on the 28th of October 1873, each contained 
seven eggs, which is the usual number for a sitting; the eggs are 
of a pale stone colour, minutely freckled and spotted all over the 
surface of the shell with rounded purplish-black markings. 
Dimensions of two eggs in the Australian Museum Collection 
are as follows:—length (A) 1*9 x 1-35 inch; (B) 1'98 x 14 inch. 
A sot of eight in the Dobroyde Collection, taken by Mr. Edward 
Lord Ramsay at Wattagoona, near Louth, New South Wales, 
measure as follows :—length (A) 1 '92 x 1-33 inch ; (B) 1'95 x 1 -35 
