THE GALLINULB. 165 



pale gray, and the under part white. They have beeit 

 called Sea Swallows, from appearing to have all the same 

 actions at sea that the swallow has on land, seizing every 

 insect which appears on the surface, and darting down Tipon 

 the smaller fishes, which they seize with incredible rapidity. 



The Lesser Tern weighs only two ounces five grains. 

 The bill is yellow, and from the eyes to the bill is a black 

 line: in other respects it almost exactly resembles the 

 preceding. 



The Black Tern is of a middle size between the two 

 preceding species. It weighs two ounces and a half. It 

 receives its name from being all black as far as the vent, 

 except a white spot under the throat. This bird is called 

 in some parts the Car Swallow. It is very noisy. 



Among the birds of this tribe, one of the most singular 

 is the Striated Tern, which is a native of New Zealand. 

 It has a black bill, and the body is in general mottled, or 

 rather striped with black and white. Its length is abouk 

 thirteen inches. 



PUEPLE GALLINULE. (^GaUinula porphyrio.) 



" This bird," says Latham, " is more or less common in 

 all the warmer parts of the globe. On the coasts of Bar* 

 Miy thfty abound, as well mi m some of the islands of the 



