Genus Porphyrio, Briss.
| 525. Porphyrio melanotus, Temm. | Vol. VI. Pl. 69. |
| 526. Porphyrio bellus, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 70. |
Genus Tribonyx, DuBus.
| 527. Tribonyx Mortieri, DuBus | Vol. VI. Pl. 71. |
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land.
| 528. Tribonyx ventralis, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 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 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 Gallinulæ are very numerous, and are found in nearly every part of the world. Australia is inhabited by a species peculiarly its own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent.