. The animals of New Zealand; an account of the dominion's air-breathing vertebrates . own, spotted with white and varied with black. Abdomenbarred with black and white. Eye dull red. Length of the wing, in.;of the tarsus, 1 in. Egg—Olive brown, polished; length, in. BothIslands and the Chatham Islands. These solitary little birds live in flax swamps and hide them-selves with much dexterity. They might live a long time in aplace without their presence being suspected, were it not thatunlucky individuals are occasionally brought in by a prowlingcat. The bird is closely allied to the sp
. The animals of New Zealand; an account of the dominion's air-breathing vertebrates . own, spotted with white and varied with black. Abdomenbarred with black and white. Eye dull red. Length of the wing, in.;of the tarsus, 1 in. Egg—Olive brown, polished; length, in. BothIslands and the Chatham Islands. These solitary little birds live in flax swamps and hide them-selves with much dexterity. They might live a long time in aplace without their presence being suspected, were it not thatunlucky individuals are occasionally brought in by a prowlingcat. The bird is closely allied to the spotted water crake ofAustralia. 190 THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND The Swamp Rail.—-Putoto or tahuensis. Slate blue, brownish on the back. Under tail coverts, black bandedwith white. Eye bright red. Length of the wing, 3 in.; of the tarsus,1 in. In the young the throat and part of the breast are white. Egg—Pale creamy brown, freckled with darker; length, in. Both Islandsand the Chatham Islands. Also Polynesia, New Caledonia, Australia,and the Philippine Marsh Eail. Swamp Eail. The swamp rail also frequents swampy places, especially raiiposwamps. It is rarely seen, but an observer, by patiently standingstill, may hear its low purring note close by, but in what directionit is difficult to say. According to ]\Ir. Gould, it swims withgrace and elegance, sporting with ease among the floating aquatic plants in search of water snails, which form food. THE SWAMP HEN 191 Genus Porpliijrio. Bill short, elevated at the base, which is flat and dilated on theforehead. Second to the fourth quills longest. Toes very long,free at the base, the hind toe long. The warmer parts of theeastern hemisphere.
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