752 



U. S. p. R. R EXr. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



GALLINULA, Brisson. 



GaHinuZa, Brisson, Orn. VI, 1760, 3. Type Fulica chloropus, h. 



The gallinules are readily distinguished from the coots by the absence of the lobes of stia 

 margining the toes. There is a very slight membrane, but this is scarcely appreciable in the 

 dried skin. 



The purple gallinule by Burmeister is placed in another family {Parridae) from the common 

 gallinule, {G. galeata,) and by Bonaparte in a different section, Porphyrioneae. They seem, 

 at any rate, well entitled to generic separation, although, for our present purposes, they may 

 be combined under Gallinula. The most prominent character of the purple gallinule, or Por- 

 phyrula, consists in the thicker bill and nearly circular, instead of elongated or linear nostrils, 

 although other distinctions might readily be adduced. 



Gallinula, Brisson. 



. GALLINULA GALEATA, (Licht.)Bon. 



Florida Gallinale. 



Crex galeata, Licht. Verz. 1823, 80, No. 826. San Paulo. 



Gallinula galeata, Bon. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 128 ; pi xxvii.— Ib. List, 1838.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 221.— GossE, 



Birds Jam. 1847, 381.— Cab. Journ. 1856, 428. 

 Gallinula chloropus, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 336.— Add. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 330 ; pi. 244.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 

 132 ; pi. 304. 



Sp. Cn. — Frontal plate large, obovate, terminating square on the top of the head ; bill shorter than the head, rather thick, 

 compressed ; wing rather long ; tail short ; legs moderate ; toes and claws long, robust. Head, neck, and entire under parts 

 dark bluish cinereous, frequently nearly black on the head and neck, and generally lighter on the abdomen ; a few feathers on 

 the flanks tvidcly edged with white ; edge of wing at the shoulder and outer edge of first primary quill white ; shorter under tail 

 coverts black, longer white. Upper parts brownisli olive, darker on the rump ; quills dark brown ; tail brownish black ; frontal 

 plate and bill bright red, tipped with yellow; tibia with a bright red space on the bare portion r.e.xt to the feathers; lower portion 

 of tibia, tarsus, and toes yellowish green. 



Total length about 12J inches ; wing, 6J ; tail, 3 ; bill, IJ : tarsus, IJ mchcs. 



Ilab. — Southern countries of North America, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, •outh America. Accidental in middle and northern 

 States. 



