•531. Parra gallinacea, T e n o n . ....................................................................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 75.
Inhabits the northern parts of Australia and New Guinea.
Genus R a l l u s ,.. ■£«’« « .
We have here again a genus of birds the range of the species of which is most extensive, for there is no
country in which one or other of them is hot to be'found.
532. Rallus pectoralis, C m . ....................................... ............................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 76.
533. Rallus Lewinii, Swains.................................................................................................................................Vol. VI. PI. 77.
Genus E u l a b e o r n i s , Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, but slightly curved downwards ; compressed laterally; nostril long
and open, situated in a large groove which runs along the upper mandible for nearly two-thirds of its length from
the b ase; wings rather short and feeble, very much rounded; tertiaries long, nearly reaching to the end of the wing;
legs rather long, more powerful than in the genus Rallus; toes not so much lengthened as in that genus; tail long
cuneiform; the webs loose and of a decomposed character.
A genus established for the reception of a singular species of Rail inhabiting the north coast of Australia, and
in which Mr. G. R. Gray has since placed four other species from different localities.
534. Eulabeornis castaneoventris, Gould . . . . . . . . • ■ Vol. VI. PI. 78.
Genus P o r za n a , Vieill.
The Porzana inhabit Europe, Africa, India and Australia; the four species inhabiting the latter country are
generally distributed, even within the tropics.
535. Porzana fluminea, Gould . . . . . . . . • • ■ Vol. VI. PI..79.
536. Porzana palustris, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI. PI. 80.
537. Porzana leucophrys, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI. PI. 81.
538. Porzana immaculata . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI, Pl.;.$2.
Order NATATORES, III.
Upon taking a general view of the birds of this Order inhabiting Europe and Australia, our attention cannot
fail to be arrested by some remarkable contrasts which present themselves to our notice. I allude to the great
excess in the number of species of some of the principal groups, and the paucity of others ; for instance, of the true
Anatida or Ducks, exclusive of the Mergansers, the European fauna comprises-at least forty species, while eighteen
are all that are known in Australia; of the Larida or Gulls, exclusive of the Terns, twenty species inhabit Europe,
while three are all that are known in Australia; on the other hand, sixteen species of Terns frequent the shores of
Australia, while only twelve resort to those of Europe; of the family Procellarida or Petrels, nearly forty species
enliven the Australian seas, while seven are all that are known to inhabit the seas of Europe; no Puffins or
Guillemots are found in the seas south of the Equator; while the Penguins are unknown north of the lin e; and
the Grebes and Cormorants are equally numerous in both hemispheres.
Family ANATIDiE, Leach.
Genus C e r e o p s i s , Lath.
But one species of this singular and strictly Australian form has yet been discovered.
539, Cereopsis Novse-Hollandiae, Lath. . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 1.
Genus Anseranas, Less.
Like Cereopsis, this genus contains but a single species, which is equally confined to Australia.
540. Anseranas melanoleuca . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 2.
Genus Bernicla, Steph.
The Australian bird hitherto referred to this genus should certainly receive a new generic appellation, since it
does not agree either in form or habits with the true Bernicla.
541. Bernicla jubata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 3.
Genus Nettapus, Brandt.
Of this beautiful genus of Pygmy Geese there are at least four species known; one inhabiting Africa, one
India, and two Australia.
542. Nettapus pulchellus, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 4.
543. Nettapus albipennis, Gould.
Nettapus Coromandelianus . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 5.
I feel confident that the Australian bird which I have figured under the name of N. Coromandelianus, is quite
distinct from the Indian, and I have therefore assigned it a new name.
My figures are stated to be of the natural size, but this is an error : they are considerably smaller.
Genus Cygnus, Linn.
Only one species, the C. atratus, is, I believe, found south of the line; for the Black-necked Swan of Chili will
doubtless prove to be generically distinct.
544. Cygnus a t r a t u s ................................................................................................ Vol. VII. PI. 6.
This “ rara avis in terris ” is not only strictly confined to Australia, but is so exclusively an inhabitant of th e
southern districts, that no notice has been recorded of its having been seen fh Torres’ Straits, or on any part of the
north coast.
Genus Casarca, Bonap.
This ornamental section of the Anatida is not very numerous in species.
545. Casarca Tadomo'ides . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 7.
A beautiful representative of the C. rutila of Europe.
Genus T adorna, Leach.
546. Tadorna Radjah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 8.
An equally beautiful representative of the T. Vulpanser.
Genus A n a s , Linn.
Of true Ducks three species are found in Australia.
547. Anas superciliosa, Gmel. . . . . . . . Vol. VII. PI. 9.