Gallinula. BIRDS. PRESSIROSTRES. 99 



female like the male— Nest in fields, of dry plants. Eggs 14, of a dull white, 

 with rust-coloured spots. Young with colours less vivid, and the plumage 



mixed with white spots This species lives in dry places, and its muscular 



gizzard intimates its granivorous habits. It arrives in the end of April, and 

 departs in October. It abounds in Orkney. 



Gex. LXI. GALLINULA. Gallinule.— Toes bordered 

 by a simple membrane. 



130. G. chloropus: Common Gallinule or Water-Hen. — 

 Plumage, above, dark oiive-brown ; beneath, dark bluish-grey ; 

 edges of the wings and vent white: 



Will. Orn. 223. Sibb. Scot. 1!) Fulica chloropus, Linn. Syst. i. 258 — 



Common Gallinule, Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. 489. Tenon. Orn. ii. 693 — 

 E, Moor-Hen, Marsh-Hen, Cuddy; S, Stank-Hen; W, Dwfriar — 

 Common near lakes and marshes. 

 Length 14, breadth 22 inches ; weight 15 ounces. Bill red at the base, 

 greenish towards the tip. I rides reddish-hazel. Legs and toes dusky-green, 

 with a red garter above the knee. On the sides, a few white feathers. Fe- 

 male less, and the red on the bill not so conspicuous. In both, this colour 

 fades after the breeding-season — Nest of flags, on the stump of a tree, near 

 water. Eggs 5 to 10, light yellowish-brown, with rusty spots. 



131. G. Porzona. Spotted Gallinule. — Plumage, above, 

 olive-brown, with dusky streaks and white spots ; beneath, cine- 

 reous-olive with white spots. 



Rallus Porzona, Linn. Syst. Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. 486 — Gal. Por. Temm. 

 Orn. ii. 688 A summer visitant. 



Length 9 inches ; weight 4 ounces. Bill green, base orange-red. Irides 

 hazel. Legs green. The front, throat and cheeks cinereous, the latter with 

 black streaks. Middle feathers of the tail edged with white ; the under co- 

 vers white. Female with brown spots on the sides of the neck Nest of 



rushes, in marshes. Eggs 7 to 12, yellowish-red, with brown and grey dots 

 and spots. Young smaller in size, less spotted — Nowhere abundant, but 

 probably often overlooked in consequence of its shy habits. 



STRAGGLERS. 



1. G. pusilla, Temm. Orn. ii. 690. — This species is about 7 inches long; 

 the wings reach to the extremity of the tail; bill and feet bright green; 

 back black with white streaks. This species was first recorded by Montagu, 

 in his Supplement to the Orn. Diet., under the title, Little Gallinule. One 

 specimen was killed at Ashburton, in Devonshire, in 1809. Mr Fothergill 

 likewise states (Linn. Trans, xiv. 583.), that another was shot on 6th May 

 1807, by John Humphrey, Esq. of Wensley, on the banks of the Yore. 



2. G. Foljambei. Olivaceous Gallinule. — Length about 7 inches; wings 

 reaching to half the length of the tail ; bill deep green ; legs flesh-coloured. 

 Back and wings with white spots. This species was recorded by Montagu, 

 in his Supplement, with the above trivial name, given in honour of Mr Fol- 

 jambe, who detected it in a poulterer's shop, to which it had been brought 

 from Norfolk, in May 1812. Temminck, seven years after, named it, in 

 honour of M. Ballon, G. Buillonu, (Orn. ii. 692.). A second specimen occurred 

 to Mr Plasted at Chelsea, at the same time as the one saved to science by 

 Mr Foljambe. 



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