The principal genera of plants consumed by green turtles in Torres Strait were Hypnea, Laurencia, Vidalia, Sargassum and Thalassia. Although some selectivity for soft red algae was detected, no evidence was found to support the theory that turtles feed on algae only when seagrasses are unavailable, but nor do algae appear to confer a nutritional advantage on those animals that eat them. Geographical variation in green turtle diets appears to be determined by the relative availability of seagrass and algae and the structure of the local herbivore community.

The effects of variation in diet, density and handling frequency on the growth, intake and conversion efficiency of immature Crocodylus porosus were tested under experimental conditions. The clutch of origin explained most of the variation in all variables. Only after taking clutch into account could it be concluded that diets of pork and beef were superior to fish. Significant interactions between clutch and density and clutch and handling frequency prevented analysis of these treatments: individuals from some clutches responded positively to stress, those from other clutches responded negatively. It was concluded that these clutch-related factors, whether they be genetic or environmental, must be elucidated before the effects of other treatments on crocodile growth can be determined.

A population of dusky moorhens was studied between October 1974 and December 1976. Moorhens were present in the study area throughout the year, existing predominantly in free-ranging flocks in May and June and tending to form territorial groups of from two to seven birds from July to April. In a group there were from one to three males per female; all males copulated with all females. Groups formed in July were predominantly of experienced adults and did not cease territoriality until April; those formed later, in September, were predominantly of immatures and tended to cease territoriality in March. The former had larger territories with more reeds, less sexual behaviour although more frequent successful coition, and a higher productivity than the latter. Productivity did not increase with group size although those with more than four birds lost twice as many eggs as smaller groups. It is unlikely that members of a group are related. The most frequent group size was four and it is postulated that groups of this size produce the most young. The skewed ratio in groups may result from the scarcity of nest sites, which limits the number of females per group.

Behaviour of dusky moorhens (Gallinula tenebrosa) was studied during 666 h during 3 months ending in December 1976 near Canberra, Australia. Observations were that the young were fed intensively from hatching to about 4 weeks old then with decreasing frequency to 9 weeks old. Adults of the group of up to 7 birds transferred food to the beak of the brooding adult, which passed it to the young in the nest. Older juveniles approached adults carrying food, displaying a conspicuous yellow patch of skin on the wings, and pecked towards the yellow patch on the tip of the lowered beak of the adult. The young made pecking motions from a few days old but took no food for themselves until they were at least 10 days old. At any one time only 1 or 2 adults of the group took all food they found to the young; other adults fed themselves, and only occasionally fed the young. The young remained with the parents for 5 to 8 months. Adults sometimes fed other adults, the food being exchanged more than 20 times at some encounters. For the first few weeks after hatching the main food items were molluscs, annelids and insects; vegetable matter was included gradually as the young began to feed themselves.