454 



THE FLORIDA GALLINULE. 



tow 1 is further heightened by its occasional appearance among them during 

 migrations. Says Dr. Jones: "The Florida Gallinule is in many respects a 

 curious bird. It occasionally is found during its periods of migration in open 

 fields away from the water or even in the barn yard. Some years ago a gen- 

 tleman in Circleville found one walking about among his chickens. To him 

 it was a new and strange bird and he concluded to capture it and see where 

 it was hurt, lie at once gave chase and soon caught it, but a careful examina- 

 tion failed to reveal a wound. I saw the bird later in the day walking about 

 his yard. It seemed as tame as the chickens and perfectly contented. On 

 the flat hard ground it moved about awkwardly, often stepping with one foot 

 upon the toes of the other, an accident which seriously affected the grace of 

 its movements. The gentleman could not be 



persuaded that the „^tf^^SK^8^^9^^ bird was not hurt, 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE FLO 



and having no idea that it would fly it was left in the yard with the poultry. 

 The following morning it was gone, having disappeared as mysteriously as it 

 .came." 



A brood of Gallinule chicks — tiny black fellows with funny silver whisk- 

 ers — are fully as cunning as any raised ashore. And they add to the accom- 

 plishments nf pattering over the lily pads, and peeping lustily while thev 

 gather in little insect- and snails, that which would horrify their landsmen 

 cousins, viz., the ability t" swim and dive. 



