202 EALLID.T^. 



7. Porphyrio ellioti. 



Porpliyrio indicus (wee Horaf.), Scl. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 556. 

 Porphyrio eWioti, Salvad. Atti Ji. Accad. Torino, xiv. p. 1168 (1879), 



xviii. p. 322 (1882) ; id. Orn. Papuasia etc. iii. p. 283 (1882). 

 Porphyrio calvus (ncc V.), Scl. Hep. Voy. ' Challenyer,' ii. p. 33 (1881). 

 Porphyrio neobritannicus, Meyer, Abhandl. Mus. Dresden, no. 4, 



p. 15 (1891). 



Adult male (type of species). Only distiBguished from P. calvvs 

 hy its diugy-coloured thighs, which are of a dull indigo, and by the 

 flattened frontal shield, which shows no signs of the posterior 

 swollen ridges. Total length 15-5 inches, culmeu with frontal 

 shield 2*8, wing 8"9, tail 3, tarsus 3-2, middle toe and claw 4. 



This race is scarcely to be separated from P. ixihnts from Java. 

 It seems to be a somewhat larger bird, and to have the wing- 

 coverts less mixed with blue ; nor is there any blue wash on the back. 

 1 do not attach much importance to the greenish gloss of the upper 

 surface, which Count Salvadori considers to be one of the specitic 

 characters ; in mj' opinion this is only due to the fresh condition 

 of the plumage. It is, of course, difficult to judge of the validity 

 of any species of Porphyrio without a large series for comparison. 



Hab. Admiralty Islands and l^ew Britain. 



a. c? ad. sk. Admiralty Islands. Voy. fl.M.S. ' Challenger.' 



(Type of species.) 



b, c. Ad. sk. Yiti Levu, Fiji Islands Voy. II.M.S. 'Herald.' 



{P. M. Rmjner). 



8. Porphyrio bellus. 



Porphyrio bellus, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1840, p. 176 ; id. B. Amtr. vi. pi. 70 

 (1841); Peic/ie7ib. Voy. Neuholl. p. 213 (18o0) ; id. Eandb., Pvli- 

 cari(p',iVi\s. ( ix. fig. 1103 (1852) ; Gould, Hundb. B. Amtr. ii. p. 322 

 (18t;5) ; Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. r,Q (1865) ; Biggies, Orn. 

 Austr. pi. 110 (c. 1870) ; Graij, Hand-l. B. iii. p. 64, no. 10479 

 (1871); liamsay, Proc. Limi. Sor. N. 8. JV. ii. p. 199 (1878); 

 JElliof, Str. F. vii. p. 15 (1878) ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. B. p. 21 

 (1888) ; id. Proc. Limi. Soc. N. S. W. (2) ii. p. 177 (1888: Derby). 



Adult. Back black ; a distinct shade of verdigris-blue on the 

 tliroat and fore neck ; thighs purplish like the flanks : " bill red ; 

 knees, lower part of tarsi, and inside of feet dark greenish grey ; 

 remainder of feet and legs dark green " (/. Gould). Total length 

 17'5 inches, culmen with frontal shield 3, wing lO'B, tail 3"6, 

 tarsus 3-6, middle toe and claw 4'6. 



Hab. Western Australia. 



a. Ad. sk. Australia. Tweeddale Coll. 



b. Ad. sk. W. Australia (J. T. Cocherell). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



9. Porphyrio chathamensis. 



Porphyrio melanotus (wee T.), Travel's, Trans. N. Z. Inst. i. p. 125 



(1868). 

 Porphyrio chathaiueusis, Shiirpe, Ibis, 1^93, p. 531. 



