75S PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [NoV. , 



Sharpe and most authors quote this genus in the emended form 

 Porphijriola from Sundevall, 1872. The original reference, however, 

 is Blyth, Cat. Birds, Mus. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, p. 283. While the genus 

 is not described, a type species, Porphyrio chloronotus [ = alleni] is men- 

 tioned, which is all that is necessary. The date of Blyth's Catalogue 

 on the title-page is 1S49, which is also the year in which the type species 

 was described by him; and from the fact that he leaves the page refer- 

 ence to Jour. Asiat. Soc, XVIII, where the description occurs, blank, 

 we should infer that it had not appeared when he proposed the new 

 generic name. Furthermore, the very paper in which P. chloronotus 

 is described is entitled a supplement to the Catalogue! This would 

 seem to make Porphyrula untenable, being based on a nomen nudum. 

 I On the other hand, the appendix of the Catalogue, which has every 

 appearance of being strictly a part of it, is dated 1852. If this is the 

 real date of issue it will, of course, make the name Porphyrula avail- 

 able, but it will also raise the question of priority between it and 

 lonornis, which likewise dates from 1852. 



Some additional light upon the actual date of publication of Blyth's 

 Catalogue seems to be badly needed. 



18. Porphyrio porphyrio (Linn.). 



Fulica porphyrio Linn., S. N., I, p. 152, 1758. 



Naivasha, August 21. "Irides red brown, shield and bill crimson, 

 feet pink." 



19. Fulica cristata Gm. 



Fulica cristata Gm., S. N., II, p. 704, 1788. [Madagascar and Sina.] 



I Naivasha, August 16. 



PODIOIPEDID^. 



20. Colymbus cristatus Linn. 



Colymbus cristatus Linn., S. N., I, p. 135, 1758. 

 Niavasha, August 13. "Irides crimson, bill dark slate, feet mottled 

 black and greenish yellow." 



21. Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pallas). 



Sterna hybrida Pallas, Zoogr. Russ. Asiat., II, p. 338, 1811. [S. Volga and 

 Sarpa.] 



Naivasha, August 12. 'Trides hazel, bill and feet dark crimson." 



22. Larus cirrhocephalus Vieill. 



Lotus cirrhocephalus Vieill., Nov. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., XXI, p. 502, 1818. 

 [Brazil.] 



Naivasha, August 12. "Irides hazel, bill and feet dull brick red, 



bill dusky at tip." 



