l-][ GALLINULA MAKTINICA. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Averas;e measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. I.erigtli, IS'SO; stretcli, 22'II0; winu;, 0'70; tail, SSO; 

 bill, 1-1'2; tarsus, ITS. Longest specimen, I'POC; greatest extent of wing, 2i-r0; longest wing, 7 00; tail, 3'00; bill, 1 35; 

 tarsus, 2-25. Shortest specimen, 13-00 ; smallest extent of wing, 2r00; shortes-t wing, 6- 40; tail,200; bill, 100; tarsus, 1-25, 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, comjiosed cf grass, weeus, etc. E</ys, from eight to ten in number, 

 oval in form, creamy-bufF in color, spotted and dotted with brown and umber. Dimensions from l-20x 1-75 to I'SOx rSO. 



HABITS. 

 Although the Florida Gallinules occur regularly iu Massachusetts, aiul even breed in 

 some of our larger marshes, tliey are not common here. In Florida, however, the species 

 is remarkably abundant and deposit their eggs in May. The nests are placed on the drier 

 portionsof the marshes, among thick reeds or rushes, and when tlie locality is approached, 

 the birds quietly leave their domiciles and disappear in the sheltering vegetation. In gen- 

 eral habits, the Floridii Gallinules somewhat resemble the Rails, spending much of their 

 time among the grass and aquatic plants which border rivers and other bodies of fresh wa- 

 ter. They will, however, occasion.ally emerge from these retreats and walk over the ex- 

 posed margins of the water, wade in the shallows, or make their way over the floating 

 vegetation. These birds also swim well, liut when thus engaged, the head is jerked back- 

 waj'd witli every motion of the legs, as if the l»irds were walking with the body partly sub- 

 merged. If disturbed when not in shelter, the Gallinules either dive into the water or rise, 

 and fly wi!h dtingling legs, to the nearest grass, into which they drop like Rails; but un- 

 like these birds, they c;in be started again quite easily. These Gallinules readily become 

 tame, and a specimen, brought to me from the Everglades, by the Seminole chief. Tiger, 

 and which he assured me, had been in captivity but a few days, was so unsuspicious that 

 it- fed from my hand. It had a long string fastened to its leg, and had become quite ac- 

 customed to this method of continement, for it never attempted to escape; but I had ouly 

 kept it a few days, when it was unfortunately killed by a predatory opossum. 



GALLINIJLA MARTINICA. 



Purple Gallinule. 



Gallinula marlinka Lath., Ind. Orn., II; 17iX), 769, 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn, Form, robust. Size, medium. CoLon. Adult. Upper part of body, brownish-green, darkest on back and 

 rump. Wings and tail, brown, edged on outer webs with green. Head and under parts, bluish-purple, darkest on ab- 

 domen and tibia, with sides and under wing coTerts, greenish. Under tail coverts, white. Bill, red, tijiped with yellow. 

 Frontal plate, blue. lii;;, brown. Legs, greenish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Readily known by the purpli.sli and green colore, and absence of lobatings on the toes. Distributed, in summer, in Flor- 

 ida. Accidental as far north as INIassachusetts. Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 1? ."JO; stretch, 20'50; wing, 6'50; tail, 3'25; bill, ri2; 

 tarsus, 2' 12. Longest specimen, 13'00; greatest extent of wing, 2r00; longest wing,7'00; tail. 3'50; bill, r25; taisus, 225. 

 Shortest s]>eoimen, 12-00; smallest extent of wing, iO-flO; shortest wing, G'OO; tail, 300; bill, TOO; tarsus, 200. 



DESCRIPTION. OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 A'r.sV.i, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eygs, from sis to ten in number, rath- 

 er elliptical ill form, creamy in color, iir.ely and rather sparcely dotted with brown and uiulier. Dimensions froui l'l.^)X l'7l) 

 to 1-20 X l-7.''i. 



