360 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I50 



Females (2 from Colombia), wing 159-167 (163), tail 64.9-67.0 

 (66.6), tarsus 49.8-55.7 (52.5) mm. 



Resident. Found locally on fresh-water lakes; recorded on the 

 Rio Chagres from Gamboa to above Juan Mina, and on the Miraflores 

 lakes, Canal Zone. 



The first report that may refer to this race was by L. L. Jewel 

 (Auk, 1913, p. 425) who recorded one, but apparently did not pre- 

 serve it, on January 18, 1911. He does not give the locality, but this 

 may be presumed to be near Gatun as his observations were made 

 mainly in that area. 



Gallinules of this species appear to have been rare in central 

 Panama until recently, as none were reported by the early collectors 

 before Jewel. The formation of Gatun Lake has provided favorable 

 habitat both in the lake and along the Chagres which has allowed 

 these birds to increase. Possibly they had been held down earlier by 

 competition with the more abundant purple gallinule. 



On the Chagres and the Miraflores lakes the nesting season appears 

 to begin in December, perhaps in November, and in January young, 

 in size from those recently hatched to others half grown, are common. 

 Pairs of adults are seen regularly swimming in company, and oc- 

 casionally preening one another's neck feathers. Small young when 

 threatened escape by diving, but may not be able to progress under 

 water because of the submerged plants. If captured they call with 

 high-pitched notes when a parent bird may charge across the water 

 scolding loudly. 



These gallinules should be found elsewhere in eastern Panama, 

 though as yet they have not been reported. The race panxilla ranges 

 in South America from northern Colombia to western Ecuador and 

 western Peru. 



PORPHYRULA MARTINICA (Linnaeus): Purple Gallinule; Polla Sultana 



Fulica martinica Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 259. (Martinique, 

 West Indies.) 



Brilliant blue and olive-green in the adult and light brown head 

 and back and white breast in the immature stage identify this species 

 from its companion coots and gallinules. 



Description. — Length 265-300 mm. Adult (sexes alike), head, 

 breast, sides, and wings deep blue ; back, rump, tertials, and tail dull 

 green ; abdomen and tibia black ; under tail coverts white. 



