GALLINULID^. 325 



lower edge, which surrounds the bare part of the 

 tibia. 



In immature birds the frontal shield is but slightly 

 developed, the bill much tinged with greenish yellow, 

 the legs dull green, and the garter greenish yellow. 



Measurements of a female : — 



in. lin. 



Entire length 12 4 



Leng-th of folded wing 6 



„ tarsus 19 



• ,, middle toe 2 1 



„ tail 3 



bill 11 



[It would appear, from Mr. Aiiderssou^s memoranda above 

 transcribed, that the number of eggs laid by this species in 

 South-west Africa is considerably less than the usual comple- 

 ment which it produces in Great Britain. — Ed.] 



377. Porphyrio Smaragnotus, Temm. Green-backed Porphyrio. 

 Poi-jilii/rio enjthropus:, Layard's Cat. No. 639. 

 Fulica porphyrio, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 421. 

 Porphyrio smaragnotus, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 

 p. 783. 



This splendid bird is rather scarce in Damara and 

 Great Namaqua Land, but is pretty abundant in the 

 Lake-regions and on the rivers Teoughe and Okavango ; 

 it is also not uncommon, during the rainy season, in 

 Ondonga, where the inhabitants call it "King of the 

 Waterhens," and declare that the moment it utters its 

 deep guttural notes every Waterhen within hearing 

 immediately responds by its own peculiar cry. The 

 only spot in Damara Land proper where I found this 

 species at all common was the great reedy marsh of 

 Omanbonde ; but there it was very timid, and conse- 



