FLORIDA GALLINULE. 223 



ing on objects very firmly with its toes, which are very long, 

 and spread to a great extent. When w^alking, it jerks its 

 tail like the common Gallinule. In its native marshes it is 

 very shy and vigilant, and continually eluding pursuit, can 

 only be flushed with the aid of a dog. 



The length of the Purple Gallinule is 14 inches. Bill 1^^ inches, 

 vermilion-red, greenish-yellow at the tip. Irids pale blood-red. 

 Naked crown dull azure blue. Head, part of the neck, throat, and 

 breast, of a rich violet-purple. Back and scapulars olive-green. 

 Rump, tail, and its coverts, brownish-green. Sides of the neck and 

 wings, bright blue, the latter tinged with green : shoulders of the 

 wings rich azure. Inner webs of the quills and tail feathers, dusky- 

 brown. Belly and thighs dull purplish-black. Vent white. Tail 

 rounded. Legs and feet greenish-yellow ; the claws long, sharp, 

 and of a pale flesh color. Span of the foot 5 inches. 



FLORIDA GALLINULE. 



(Gallinula galeata, Lichenstein. Bo.vap. Am. Orn. iv. p. 128. pi. 27. 

 fig. 1. [adult.] Temm. (in note) Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 69G. G. chlo- 

 ropus, BoNAP. Syn. No. 275. FuUca major pulla, fronts cera coc- 

 cinea, ohlongo quadrata glabra obducta, memhrana digitorum an' 

 gustissima, Bkowne. Nat. Hist. Jamaic. p. 479. (Red-Faced Coot.) 

 The Coot, Sloane. ii. p. 320. sp. 15.) 



Sp. Charact. — Frontal cere oblong-quadrate ; toes extremely long, 

 edged with a very narrow membrane, the midjjle toe 34 lines ; a 

 red circle around the tibia ; lateral under tail coverts only, white. 

 — Adult dark slate color, tinged with olivaceous on the back. 

 Young brownish-olive, beneath whitish. 



This species of Gallinule, so closely related to that of 

 Europe, is common in Florida, in the Antilles, in Jamaica, 

 Guadaloupe, and the Isle of Aves, where they have to dis- 

 pense with the use of fresh water. It is seen frequenting 



