Genus H erodias, Soie.
Nearly every part of the globe is tenanted by members of this genus. Those inhabiting Australia are very
nearly allied to, but I believe are quite distinct from, the species found in India, Europe and America, and of which
they are the Australian representatives.
512. Herodias syrmatophorus, Gould . .
513. Herodias plumiferus, Gould . . . . . . .
514. Herodias immaculata, Gould . . . . . .
515. Herodias pannosus, Gould . . . . . . .
516. Herodias jugularis . . . . . . . .
517. Herodias Greyii . . . . . . . . .
518. Herodias picata, Gould . . . . . . .
Genus Nycticorax, Steph.
Europe, Africa and America are all inhabited by Night Herons ; consequently it is one of thè most widely-
distributed sections of the family.
The single Australian species of this well-defined genus is rendered conspicuously different from all other
known species by the cinnamon colour of its back.
519. Nycticorax Caledonicus . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI. Ph 63,
“ Shot at Cape York and Port Essington, in which latter place it is rather abundant. Yangho of the Cape
York aborigines, Alàwool of the Port Essington natives.”—J. M‘Gillivray.
Genus Botaurus, Steph.
520. Botaurus Australis, G o u l d ...................................................................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 64.
The Australian Bittern is very similar to the European, B. stellaris.
Genus Ardetta, G. R . Gray.
The members of this genus of Mangrove Bitterns usually frequent the extensive belts of mangroves and low
dells covered with reed-beds and dense herbage.
Africa and America are each inhabited by birds of this form, one species of which is also found in Europe,
several in India and the adjacent islands, and three in Australia, viz.—
521. Ardetta f l a v i c o l l i s ................................................................... Vol. VI. PI. 65.
This species is said to inhabit Java and India, and although I have figui'ed it under the name assigned to the
Indian and Javanese bird, I am still inclined to believe th at it is distinct.
522. Ardetta macrorhyncha, Gould.........................................................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 66.
523. Ardetta stagnatilis, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI. PI. 67^
524. Ardetta pusilla ................................................ Vol. VI. PI. 68.
This species, with the little Bittern of the British Islands and several others inhabiting Africa and America,
would admit of being separated into a distinct genus.
Vol. VI. PI. 56.
Vol. VI. PI. 57.
Vol. VI. PI. 58.
Vol. VI. PI. 59.
Vol. VI. PI. 60.
Vol. VI. PI. 61.
Vol. VI. PI. 62.
Family RALLIDiE, Leach.
Of this family no less than sixteen species inhabit Australia, and are comprised in the following genera, viz.
Porphyrio, Fulica, Gallimla, Rallus and Porzana, all of which are European forms; and Parra, Eulabeomis and
Tribonyx: of the latter, the first is common to India and the Indian Islands, and the other two are confined, so far
as we know, to Australia.
Genus Porphyrio, Briss.
Vol. VI. PI. 69.
Vol. VI. PI. 70.
Genus T r ib o n y x , DuBus.
527. Tribonyx Mortieri, D u B u s ...................................................................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 71.
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land.
528. Tribonyx ventralis, G o u l d ................................................ Vol. VI. Pb 72.
Inhabits the interior of Australia.
“ This bird,” says Captain Sturt, “ appeared suddenly in South Australia in 1840. I t came from the north;
fresh flights coming up and pushing on those which had preceded them. I t was moreover evident th at 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 increased 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 Gallinula, Briss.
The true Gallinula are very numerous, and are found in nearly every p art of the world
bited by a species peculiarly its own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent.
529. Gallinula tenebrosa, Gould . . . . . . . . . . .
Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of Europe, Gallinula chloropus.
Genus F u l ic a , Linn.
Fulica are found in nearly every p art of the great continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and one
species in Australia.
530. Fulica Australis, G o u l d ................................................ Vol. VI. PI. 74.
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.
Australia is inha-
Vol. VI. PI. 73.
525. Porphyrio melanotus, Tenrn.
526. Porphyrio bellus, Gould