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The Black-backed Gallinule.
(Porphyrio melanonotus.)
This Australian relative of our common Waterhen, which resembles that bird in build and general appearance, but is, however, much larger. Its conspicuous blood-red beak is very deep and considerably arched, and looks capable of dealing with very tough problems. On account of the size of its red frontal shield, it is popularly known as the Bald Coot. Its toes, however, are not lobed like the Coot's but are exceptionally long like those of the Waterhen. In habits also this Gallinule resembles the Waterhen, feeding on the banks and in the shallows of lakes and building its nest on a tuft of reeds surrounded by water.