230 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
PLATE XXXII 
BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
1. Black-tailed Water-hen Tribonyx vcntralis Gould 
Trib'-on-yx —Gk, tri, three; Gk, onyx (onychos ), claw: ven-tra-lis —L., 
ventralis, bellied. 
Distribution. —Australia (except the interior of Western Australia)- 
accidental to New Zealand. 
Notes. —Also called Black-tailed Native Hen, Swamp-hen, and Black- 
taded Gallinule. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting swamps, lakes, or 
the reed-beds and backwaters of rivers. It is nomadic in habits, often 
appearing in huge flocks in districts where it has not previously been 
recorded. During these visitations it does considerable damage to crons 
and gardens. It is a sprightly bird, flicking its tail as it runs in and out 
plants a'S ^,s. y '" g °" ly When Food: grass and aquatic 
Nest.—-An open, deep, saucer-shaped structure, composed of plant- 
s ems, dried grasses or rushes. Generally placed on the ground in a 
situations rCedS ’ lmder a IOW bush ’ on a mass of debris, or in similar 
Eggs. Five to nine, varying from a dull light green to pale sage- 
green sparsely but evenly dotted and spotted with purplish-brown, inter- 
to December mark,ngs of dul1 V!ol et-grey. Breeding-season: August 
2. Tasmanian Water-hen Tribonyx mortieri Du Bus 
Dumortier ' wl ’° srems to have 
Distribution . — T asmania. 
Notes .—Also called Native Hen. Usually in pairs or flocks fre- 
?s rater X d?»„n ampS ’ U dy "’-Sins° f ^ *>d streams. It 
is rather shy, disappearing in the rank herbage when disturbed The 
StelirS^L S „°, U "r,uV S ^'r bei l’ g ; the bW haeanotT 
with la a rge U quSrS'„fgratl. ^ a ' |UMiC P ' M ’ lS “" d ™” d 
stall<f“UbL 0| n,°' bulk y structure, composed of dry herbage and reed- 
alow bus““ ° n ehe Srom ’ d a " d sheltered beneath a clump of rushes or 
