Vili 
and that their broods have been allowed to range: if 
this extraordinary circumstance had taken place, the 
escape of British-bred Gallinules, surely we should have 
heard of it: there are no less than three species rejected 
by our Authorities, as ‘escaped,’ the Purple Gallinule, 
the Green-backed Gallinule, and the Martinique Gallinule, 
which bird, I believe, the American List calls the Purple 
Gallinule; and of these species, 20 /ess than seven have 
been captured since 1863, and there are others recerded : 
and it is significant that the American species was found 
in Ireland, in 1846; I donot know that any enquiry was 
made at that early date, as to who, in Ireland, was keep- 
ing these birds wpzn20ned. 
Again there is the case of birds which have occurred 
mm pairs, or at any rate in cozfles, here, also, there is 
diversity of opinion as to whether they should, or should 
not be enrolled. 
The Andalusian Hemipode for example, it is ad- 
mitted that on the first occurrence of this species ¢wo birds 
were shot. But Mr. Seebohm rejects the occurrence on 
the plea that the bird is freguently kept in confinement 
and may possibly escape: But is it frequently so kept ? 
I have for many years had large aviaries of birds; and 
to stock them have continually visited all the principal 
dealers in London, and Liverpool, but I never was shewn 
an Hemipode. 
Mr. Cross, one of our largest importers, informs me 
that he never had the Hemipode but once, and then 
sold it to a foreigner. 
Nor have I ever observed it in any Zoological Gardens 
in England, or on the Continent: not that this fact is 
conclusive in the least that it is not occasionally to be 
found in confinement. 
The question, however, is: how do Aviary keepers 
