330 
KALLID.3E • 
which predominate at the larger end of the egg. Length (A) 1 -4 
x 1-03 inch; (B) L42 x 1-02 inch. 
llab. Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 
Districts, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, 
Tasmania, West and South-West Australia. (Ramsay.) 
R ALLIN A TRICOLOR, Gray. 
Red-necked Rail. 
Gould, Suppl. lids. Aust., p. 78.) 
“ I found this fine species of Rail by no means rare in the dense 
scrubs which fringe the rivers and creeks of the coast range near 
Rockingham Bay; but although tolerably plentiful, they are 
always very difficult to obtain, on account of the nature of the 
localities they frequent, and their retiring disposition. They are 
seldom to be seen without lying in wait for them, and not always 
then can one obtain a shot, except, perhaps, at such close quarters 
as would entirely destroy them* They move about more in the 
evenings and early morn, and at night may be heard calling to one 
another as they traverse the dense masses of rank vegetation 
which abound in those districts. I never met with them out of 
these scrubs, although thick swampy grass-beds close by were 
frequented by allied species. They seem very local in their habits 
a pair frequenting the same spot for many months or perhaps the 
whole year round, and breeding near the same place year after 
year; the young soon begin to take care of themselves, and leave 
the parents before they are well able to fly. I found them some 
four or five months old in pairs. The note resembles a hoarse 
croak quickly repeated in a somewhat mournful tone, and a quick 
“ cluck cluck ” when come upon suddenly. I was not fortunate 
enough to find the nest and eggs myself, but shortly after I left 
the Herbert River, I received a fine set of these eggs from 
Inspector Robert Johnstone, to whom the bird is well known, and 
who assures me that after finding the nest and eggs he left it 
until he had twice seen the bird sitting thereon, that he might be 
