128 



Porphyrio smaragdinus, Temm. 



Porphyrio vitiensis, Fiiisch S,- Hartl. Fauna Centralpolyn. p. 172, t. iii. 



tig. 2 (1867) ; E.L.Sf L. C. Lmjard, Ibis, 1882, p. .536. 

 Porphyrio smaragdinus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 203 (1894) ; 



id. Hand-l. i. p. 109 (1899). 



The eggs of the Pacific Blue Gallinule are of a broad oval form, 

 the shell being extremely rough and without any gloss. The ground- 

 colour varies from pinkish cream to pinkish buif. The markings 

 consist of spots, blotches, and very numerous small specks of 

 reddish brown and pale purple. The blotches are of considerable 

 size, blurred at the edges and ill-defined, and they frequently form 

 an irregular cap at the larger end. Specimens measure from 1'9 to 

 2-15 in length, and from 1-32 to 1-4 in breadth. 



30. Laid in confinement (Sydney, P. L. Sclater, Esq. [P.]. 

 N. S. Wales). 



Porphyrio samoensis, Peale. 



Porphyrio iudicus, Whilmee, Ibis, 187.5, p. 446. 



PorphVrio samoensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 204 (1894) ; id. 

 Hand-l. i. p. 109 (1899). 



The single egg of the Samoan Blue Gallinule in the Collection is 

 of an oval form, slightly rough and possesses little gloss. The 

 ground is of a pinkish cream-colour, and this is spotted and blotched 

 with dark reddish brown and pale purple. The markings are 

 more numerous and larger at the broad end of the egg than else- 

 where. The specimen measures 1'78 by 1'3. 



1. Samoa, September [S. J. Wliitmee). P. L. Sclater, Esq. [P.]. 



Porphyrio melanonotus, Temm. 



Porphyrio melanotus, Gould, Handb. Birds Austr. ii. p. 321 (186.5): 

 Potts, Tr. N. Z. I7ist. ii. p. 71 (1869), iii. p. 102 (1870) ; Campbell, 

 Nests ^- Efjys Austr. Birds, p. -59 (1883); North, Nests i^- Eyps 

 Austr. Birds, pp. 323, 415 (1889). 



Porphyrio melauonotus, BuHer, Birds New Zeal. 2nd ed. ii. p. 79 (1888) : 

 Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 205 (1894) ; id. Hand-l. i. p. 109 

 (1899). 



The eggs of the Black-backed Blue GaUinule do not differ in any 

 particular respect from those of P. avruleus and P. j)oUoce_phalus, 



I 



