THE PURPLE GALLINULB. 



541 



THE PURPLE GALLINULE. 



This very splendid, but inoongruoas species of Gallinale, is m the 

 United States, a 

 feird of passage, 

 wintering in tropi- 

 cal America, and 

 passing the sum- 

 mer, or breeding 

 season in the 

 marshes of Florida 

 and the contiguous 

 parts of the State 

 of Georgia, where 

 it arrives in the 

 latter part of 

 April, retiring 

 south with its 

 brood, in the 

 course of the 

 autumn, and 

 probablj winters, 

 according to its 

 habits, in the 

 Bwampy maritime 

 districts along the 

 coast of the Mexican Gulf. 



The Martinico Gallinule, while m the Southern States, frequents the 

 rice-fields, rivulets, and fresh water pools, in <;ompany with the mora 

 common Florida species. It is a vigorous and active bird, bites hard 

 when irritated, runs with agility, and has the faculty, like the Sul- 

 tanas, of holding on objects very firmly with its toes, which are very 

 long, and spread to a great extent. When walking, 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 



vxs&Tia QUihisvis. 



OF THE FLAMINGO TRIBE. 



The Flamingoes combine the characters of the two Linnsean orders, 

 the Waders and the Swimmers. They have long necks and legs. 

 Their bill is thick, large, and bending in the middle. The higher part 

 of the upper mandible is keel-shaped : the lower compressed. The 

 edges of the upper mandible are sharply indented ; those of the 

 Sower transversely furrowed. The nostrils are covered above with a 

 thin plate, and are pervious. The tongue is cartilaginous, and pointed 

 At the end ; the middle part is muscular, and the upper part acculeated. 



