NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 343 



white tips soon wear away; the new plumage on the back is glossy 

 green, much as in the adult. Traces of immaturity remain through 

 the spring, such as some old brown feathers in the head and neck 

 and some whitish feathers in the throat. The fii'st postnuptial molt, 

 which is complete and probably earlier than in the adult, produces 

 the adult plumage. Adults have a complete postnuptial molt, in 

 late summer and fall, and a slight, partial prenuptial molt in earl}'' 

 spring. 



Food. — Very little has been published about the food of the pur- 

 ple gallinule. Mr. Wayne (1910) says that it "feeds largely upon 

 rice during the autumn." It certainly frequents the rice fields at 

 that season and is said to do much damage to the rice crop, for it not 

 only picks up grains from the ground but bends down the stalks to 

 reach the seeds. Mr. J. G. Wells (1902) says that, in the West Indies, 

 "they are caught in fish-pots baited with corn" and that "they do 

 damage to the Indian corn, as they climb up the stalks and eat the 

 ears; they also climb and eat plantains and bananas." Probably 

 they live chiefly on grains, seeds, and other vegetable food, but there 

 is some evidence that they also eat snails, and perhaps insects. Baird, 

 Brewer, and Ridgway (1884) say: 



" Worms, mollusks, and the fruit of various kinds of aquatic plants are its 

 food. It gathers seeds and carries them to its beak with its claws, and it also 

 makes use of them in clinging to the rushes where the water is very deep." 



Behavior. — The purple gallinule is easily recognized in life by its 

 brilliant colors and by its bright yellow legs, which hang down in 

 flight. Its flight is weak and raillike, slow, and not long protracted; 

 it hovers feebly along, just clearing the tops of the vegetation, and 

 then suddenly drops down out of sight. It cackles almost constantly 

 while flying, the notes sounding much like the cackling of a hen or 

 the syllables '' Kek, Kek, Kek, Kek.'' Mr. Wayne (1910) says that 

 it has "very peculiar call notes. One, which is very guttural, is to 

 be heard incessantly." 



Audubon (1840) writes: 



The jerking motions of the tail of this bird, whenever it is disturbed, or attracted 

 by any remarkable object, arc very quick, and so often repeated as to have a 

 curious appearance. It runs with great speed, and dives with equal address, often 

 moving off under water with nothing but the bill above. The lightness and ease 

 with which it walks oji the floating plants are surprising, for in proceeding thej' 

 scarcely produce any perceptible disturbance of the water. When swimming in 

 full security, they move buoyantly and gracefully, throwing the head forward at 

 every propelling motion of the feet. The flight of this species is loss swift than 

 that of the common gallinule, or of the rails, unless when it is traveling far, 

 when it flies high, and advances in a direct course by continued flappings; but 

 when it is in its breeding or feeding grounds, its flight is slow and short, seldom 

 exceeding 30 or 40 yards, and with the legs hanging down; and it alights among 

 the herbage with its wings spread upwards in the manner of the rails. It often 

 alights on the low branches of trees and bushes growing over the water, and walks 



