752 



U. S. P R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



GALLINULA, Brisson. 



Gallinula, Brisson, Orn. VI, 1760, 3. Type Fulica chhropus, L. 



The gallinules are readily distinguished from the coot.s by the absence of the lobes of sl?in 

 margining the toes. There is a very slight membrane, but this is .■scarcely appreciable in the 

 dried skin. 



The purple gallinula by Burmeister is placed in another fanaily (Parridae) from the common 

 gallinule, {G. galeata,) and by Bonaparte in a different section, Forphyrioneae. They seem, 

 at any rate, well entitled to generic separation, although, for our present purjjoses, they may 

 be combined under Gallinula. The most prominent character of the purple gallinule, or Por- 

 pJiyrula, consists in the thicker bill and nearly circular, instead of elongated or linear nostrils, 

 although other distinctions might readily be adduced. 



Gallinula, Brisson. 



GALLINULA GALEATA, (Licht.) Bon. 



Florida Gallinule. 



Crex galeala, Licht. Verz. 182.S, 80, No. 826. San Paulo. 



Gallinula gatcala, BoN. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 128; pi xxvii.— Ib, List, 1838.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 221.— Gosse, 



Birds Jam. 1847, 381.— Cab. Journ. 1856, 428. 

 Gallinula chloropua, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 336.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 330 ; pi. 244.— Ib. Birds Amor. V, 1842, 

 132 ; pi. 304. 



Sp. Ch. — Frontal plate large, obovate, terminating square on the top of the liead ; bill shorter tliaii the head, rather thick, 

 compressed ; wing rather long ; tail short ; legs moderate ; toes and claws long, robust. Head, neck, and entire under parts 

 dark bluish cinereous, frequently nearly black on the head and neck, and generally lighter on the abdomen ; a few feathers on 

 the flanks widely edged with white ; edge of wing at the shoulder and outer edge of first primary quill white ; thorter under tail 

 coverts black, longer white. Upper parts brownish olive, darker on the rump ; quills dark brown ; tail brownish black ; frontal 

 plato and bill bright rod, tipped with yellow; tibia with a bright red space on the bare portion r.ext to tlia feathers; lower portion 

 of tibia, tarsus, and toes yellowish green. 



Total length about 12J inches ; wiiif?, C} ; tail, 3 ; bill, IJ ; tarsus, 1;,' incliPR. 



Ilab. — Souther* countries of North America, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, South America. Accidental in middle and northern 

 States. 



