FLOEIDA GALLINULE 309 



and of these ten surely not one would raise his gun against such a 

 mite of a bird, unless needed for a scientific specimen. To ornith- 

 ologists the species is of interest because of its restricted range and 

 elusiveness. It seems probable that the reclamation of the marshes 

 where it makes its home will be the only factor having to do with any 

 change in its status in the future. 



Florida Gallinule 



GalUnula galeata (Lichtenstein) 



Other name.s — Red-billed Mud-hen; GalUnula chloropus galeata. 

 Description — Adults, ioth sexes: Head and neck dull black, darkest above; 

 iris "bright red" (Audubon, 1842, V, p. 136); large frontal shield above 

 base of bill bright scarlet; bill bright red except for tip which is greenish 

 yellow; whole of upper surface dark sepia brown, darkest on rump and upper 

 tail coverts; edge of wing white; outer surface of closed wing sepia brown at base, 

 otherwise slaty; flight fleathers blackish brown; axillars and under surface 

 of wing ashy browm, with mottlings of white on former; under surface of body 

 blackish slate; feathers of flanks elongated and with white shaft streaks; 

 belly chiefly dull white; lower tail coverts white, the middle and basal feathers 

 black; legs and feet greenish yellow, joints ashy blue; naked part of legs above 

 heel joint, red; toes slender and without lobes. Males: Total length 14.75 

 inches (375 mm.); folded wing 7.28 (185); bill along eulmen (to top of shield) 

 1.53 (38.9); tarsus 2.25 (57.1) (one specimen from California). Females: Total 

 length 14.00-14.50 (356-368) (three specimens); folded wing 6.91 (176); bill 

 along eulmen (to top of shield) 1.32 (33.6) ; tarsus 2.16 (55.0) (one specimen 

 from California). Juvenile plumage: Top and sides of head sooty black, paler 

 on sides where also sparingly flecked with white; chin and throat white, flecked 

 with slate gray; whole neck dull black; rest of upper surface brown, red-toned 

 on back, mor^ blackish from rump backward; breast and sides of body pale 

 slate gray, many of the feathers extensively tipped with white; middle of belly 

 white; flanks and rest of under surface pale brown; feet proportionately large, 

 as in adults. Natal plumage: Black, the upper surface with a greenish cast, 

 under surface with a brownish tinge; a few slender feathers on cheeks and 

 chin, white^tipped; bill straw yellow, dark-banded across middle; legs and 

 feet (dried) reddish. 



Marks for field identification — Dark coloration, white under tail coverts, 

 and flaming red frontal shield. Distinguished from the Mud-hen, which is of 

 similar size, general coloration and habits, by red instead of white bill, white 

 stripes on flanks, greenish legs (red above "heel"), absence of white on 

 "wings, and entire absence of lobes on sides of toes. 



Voice — A loud, discordant, hoarse, hen-like cuck, repeated slowly but in a 

 connected series (Brewster, 1902&, p. 51). 



Nest — In dense tule thickets in marshes, usually placed over water; con- 

 structed of tules on a platform of the same material. 



Eggs — 6 to 13, elongate ovate in shape, measuring in inches, 1.54 to 1.95 

 by 1.10 to 1.30 (in millimeters, 39.0 to 49.5 by 28.0 to 33.0), and averaging 

 1.73 by 1.22 (44.0 by 31.0) (105 eggs in U. S. National Museum) ; ground color 

 deep pinkish buff, with surface spots of chocolate and reddish brown, and 

 ■deeper ones of grayish lavender. 



