R.MLS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 



211 



The I'urple ( ialliiiule has been richlv endowed 

 with beautiful feathers. With the single excep- 

 tion of the male Wood Duck it must be regarded 

 as [Hjssessing the most striking cohirs of anv of 

 our southern water-bird--. (Jii the rice planta- 

 tions along the Ashley Ri\er abo\e Charlestown, 

 South Carolina. I found this species very abvm- 

 dant and often saw them run across the road 

 ahead of our buggy. There was much water 

 about and they seemed to pass frequently from 

 one pond or ditch to another, their stout, fairly 

 long legs sending them forward at a good speed 

 when haste was desired. 



^\'ith much vividness do I recall one spring 

 morning when, while I was fishing from a boat in 

 Levy Lake. Florida, these birds were much in 

 evidence. It was during the mating season and 

 they were the personification of actixity. There 

 was here an abundant growth of water lilies, and 

 the birds seemed to take the greatest ])leasure in 

 walking over the lily pads, their vellow legs 

 twinkling in the sunlight. As tliey walked, their 

 tails jerked in a most pert and amusing manner. 

 When springing from pad to pad their wings 

 would be held high above the head. One of 

 them clucking and displaying his superb plumage 

 to every possible advantage approached some 

 bushes which grew near shore and climbing the 

 limbs proceeded with many flutters and loud 

 bursts of guttural notes to climl) upward until it 



Phi'l- ; i . :i Jackson Courtesy '-f Nat- .^sso. Aud. Soc. 



NEST AND EGGS OF PURPLE GALLINHLE 



Orange Lake. Florida 



reached the branches of a dense magnolia tree. 

 Here from a height of twenty feet its purple 

 plumage shone with a most resplendent beauty 

 under the full glare of the morning sun. The 

 whole performance combined to make a picture 

 not easily forgotten. 



When making short flights, and especially 

 when chasing each other, the legs hang down as 

 if ready for immediate use in case of emergencv. 

 They swim well although thev are not web- 

 footed. The long slender toes must be very 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



PURPLE GALLINULE (i nat. size) 

 A southern water bird of superb plumage 



