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. 529. Gallinula tenebrosa, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 73. Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of Europe, _Gallinula chloropus_. Genus FULICA, _Linn._ _Fulicæ_ 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_ Vol. VI. Pl. 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. 531. Parra gallinacea, _Temm._ Vol. VI. Pl. 75. Inhabits the northern parts of Australia and New Guinea. Genus RALLUS, _Linn._ 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 not to be found. 532. Rallus pectoralis, _Cuv._ Vol. VI. Pl. 76. 533. Rallus Lewinii, _Swains._ Vol. VI. Pl. 77. Genus EULABEORNIS, _Gould_. Generic characters.