INR OD U CEEGN. Ixxxix

Family RALLIDA, Leach.

Of this family no less than sixteen species inhabit Australia, and are comprised in the following genera, viz.
Porphyrio, Fulica, Gallinula, Rallus and Porzana, all of which are European forms; and Parra, Eulabeornis and
Tribonyx: of the latter, the first is common to India and the Indian Islands, and the other two are confined, so far

b, as we know, to Australia.

4 Genus Porpuyrio, Briss.

525. Porphyrio melanotus, Temm. . : : : Vol Vig 269
526. Porphyrio bellus, Gould ; : ; , : : ; Viole Vile 770)

Genus Trrponyx, DuBus.

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Tribonyx Mortieri, DuBus : ; i : : : : : : : : Woll, WIL, IAL Wil.
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land.

528. Tribonyx ventralis, Gould : 3 ; : : : : : 5 ; : WO WHE 1k 72,
Inhabits the interior of Australia.

“This bird,” says Captain Sturt, “ appeared suddenly in South Australia in 1840. It came from the north,
fresh flights coming up and pushing on those which had preceded them. It was moreover evident that they had
been unaccustomed to the sight of man, for they dropped in great numbers in the streets and gardens of Adelaide
, and ran about like fowls. At last they creased so much in number as to swarm on all the waters and creeks,

doing great damage to the crops in their neighbourhood. They took the entire possession of the creek near my
house, and broke down and wholly destroyed about an acre and a quarter of wheat as if cattle had bedded on it.
They made their first appearance in November, and left in the beginning of March, gradually retiring northwards

as they had advanced.”’

Genus Gauutnuta, Briss.

: The true Gallinule are very numerous, and are found in nearly every part of the world. Australia is inha-
bited by a species peculiarly its own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent.
529. Gallinula tenebrosa, Gould : ; : ; : : 5 4 : : d Vole Vile iis

Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of Europe, Gallinula chloropus.

I Genus Funica, Linn.

Fulice are found in nearly every part of the great continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and one

species in Australia.

530. Fulica Australis, Gould : : ; : ; : t s ‘ Vol? VA GP: 74s

This bird, which is strictly confined to Australia, is rather smaller than its European ally.

Genus Parra, Linn.

A tropical form, the structure of which is admirably adapted for progression over the aquatic plants and
floating leaves of the lagoons and inland waters it frequents and over which it passes with facility ; its expansive
feet, spreading over a large surface of fallen grasses and leaves, readily sustaining it, which they would not do were
they of the ordinary form,

Species of this form are found in India, Africa and America.

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