BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—GALLINULA MARTINICA. (58) 
Abundant in the southern States, and occasionally occurring on the coasts of New Jersey and 
New York. This species much resembles the Gallinule of Europe, (G@. chloropus,) and other 
species of the Old World, which appear to be mainly distinguishable from each other by the 
shape and size of the frontal plates which characterize all the species of this genus. This is said 
to be quadrate in our bird instead of acute. The toes also are longer, 
* 
Catal. | Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. | Nature of specimen. 
No. 
ADD ex 2an- Garlisley i Pace e 2522-522 Octoberslse U8di0)| Sac (Bairda2ses S222" 22S... | sen e eon eee eee 
PAE (Seen nae doers ahseecesssds May 14, 1840" jo==-2- dof esScescsscccesecsa<. Head, wing, and leg.---. 
2 045|2= O-2) Michisan 2-2 222-62 Spring, 1841 |.----- COBwatt. cueecacccmes=a+|seecssceusus. 2s. 
9824 |_....- Thakeshiitzabethtuscqesces|--eamaeesse= oes Dieuts Walliamsonesc=,* eons coms tana nc eee eee aes 
9825) |--s S22 Rammbedroe oc... .osce coe |eeeawee se eceac— == | Major Hmorycceo 22 2soscccececc|—p=soaccoe cee oer e 
Porphyrula, Blyth. 
GALLINULA MARTINICA, (Linn.) Lath. 
Purple Gallinule. 
Fulica martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766, 259. 
Gallinula martinica, Latuam, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 769.—Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 231.—Nurr. Man. II, 221.— 
Aup. Orn. Biog. 1V, 1838, 37; pl. 305.—Is. Syn. 210.—Is. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 128; 
pl. 303. 
Crex martinica, Licut. Verz. 1823, 79. 
Porphyrio martinica, Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 377.—Caz. Jour. 1856, 429. 
Fulica martinicensis, Jacquin, Beit. 1784, 12; pl. iiiGmetin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 700. 
Tonornis martinicensis, Reicu. Syst. Av. 1853, p. xxi. 
Fulica flavirostris, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 699. 
Porphyrio tavoua, Vieiti. Gal. I, 1825, 170. 
Porphyrio cyanicollis, VietLu. 
Gallinula porphyrio, Wits. Am. Orn, IX, 1824, 69 ; pl. Ixxiii. 
Porphyrio americanus, Sw. Class. Birds, 11, 1837, 357. 
Martinico gallinule, Laru. Syn. II, 1, 255; pl. Ixxxiii. 
Sp. Cu.—Frontal plate large, obovate ; bill about as long as the head, thick, compressed ; wings long ; tail short ; legs long, 
robust ; toes and claws long. Head and entire under parts fine bluish purple, darker and sometimes nearly black on the abdo— 
men and tibiae ; lower tail coverts white ; sides and under wing coverts bluish green. Upper parts of body dark olive green, 
tinged with brown on the back and rump; quills and tail feathers brownish black, edged with green on the outer webs of the 
feathers ; bill bright red, tipped with yellow ; frontal plate blue ; legs yellow. 
Total length, about 123 inches; wing, 7; tail, 3; bill, 14; tarsus, 2} inches. 
Hab.—Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida. Accidental in the middle and northern United States. 
Western? 
This very handsome bird is of frequent occurrence on the coasts of the southern States of this 
republic and in South America. It is occasionally met with as far north as New Jersey, and 
more rarely in New York and Massachusetts. We have never seen a specimen from the coasts 
of the Pacific. 
Catalogue No. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— 
1827 Surinaniee Sey ee ee PSL Tes Dr. Calhoun. .. 
August 12, L858. 
95 b 
