This bird was very numerous at the Depot Creek, remaining during the day in the trees in the glen.  There was, as the reader may recollect, a long sheet of water at the termination of the Depot Creek distant about thirty miles.  It was the habit of these birds to fly from the glen across the plains to this lower water, where they remained until dawn, when they announced their return to us by a croaking note as they approached the trees.  They collected in the glen about the end of April, and left us, but, I am not certain to what quarter they passed, although I believe it was to the north-west, the direction taken by all the aquatic birds.  This bird had a black body, and white neck with a light shade of yellow, and speckled black.

125.  Porphyrio MELANOTUS, TEMM.—­The black-backed Porphyrio.

This bird is very common on the Murray, where birds of the same kinds have such extensive patches of reeds in which to hide themselves.  Although dark on the back their general plumage is a fine blue, and their bills and legs are a deep red as well as the fleshy patch on the front of the crown.  It was not seen by us to the westward of the Barrier Range, nor is it an inhabitant of any of the creeks we passed to the N.W.  This Coote is of tolerable size, but is not fit to eat, its flesh being hard, and the taste strong.

126.  Tribonyx VENTRALIS, Gould.—­The black-tailed Tribonyx.

This bird, like the Eudromias Australis or Australian Dottrel appeared suddenly in South Australia in 1840.  It came by the successive creeks from the north, fresh flights coming up to push those which had preceded them on.  It was moreover evident that they had been unaccustomed to the sight of man, as they dropped in great numbers in the streets and gardens of Adelaide, and ran about like fowls.  At last they increased so much in numbers as to swarm on all the waters and creeks, doing an infinity of damage to the crops in the 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.  These birds made their first appearance in November, and left us in the beginning of March, gradually retiring northwards as they had advanced.

The plumage of this bird is a dark dusky green, and it has a short black tail which it cocks up in running.  Its bill is green and red, and it has all the motions and habits of a water rail, and although it has visited the province annually, since its first visit, it has never appeared in such vast numbers as on the first occasion.

The line on which this bird migrates seems to be due north.  It was never seen at the Depot or on any of the creeks to the west excepting Strzelecki’s Creek, and a creek we crossed on our way to Lake Torrens, when on both occasions they were migrating southwards.

127.  RALLUS pectoralis, Cuvier.—­Water Rail.