a 
FULICA CRISTATA. 621 
598. Porrnyrro aLient (ZThomps.). Allen’s Purple Gallinule. 
This is a much smaller species than the preceding bird, measuring 
in the flesh, according to the late Mr. Andersson :—T'otal length, 
10°6; wing, 5°8; tail, 2:9; bill, 1:0; tarsus, 2:0. A pair were 
shot by his friend Axel at Ondonga in Ovampo Land on the 5th 
of February, 1867, and Senor Anchieta has found the species at 
Humbe, on the Cunene River—native name “ Canbonja-anganga.” 
The same naturalist has also procured it in Loango, and it has been 
seen from other parts of Western Africa. ‘lhe late Mr. Frank Oates 
also had a specimen in his collection procured somewhere during 
his journey to the Zambesi, but the exact locality was not recorded. 
The following is a translation of Prof. Bocage’s description :— 
Upper surface of the body olive-brownish, shaded with green ; 
neck and breast bluish violet; head, belly, and thighs, deep black ; 
under tail-coverts white, the shorter ones black ; quills blackish, 
with the outer webs olive-green; centre tail-feathers like the back, 
the others black, edged with olive-green; “ bill, legs, and toes bright 
red.” 
Fig. Dresser, B. Hur. vii. pl. 502. 
599. Fourica cristata, Gm. Red-Knobbed Coot. 
The Crested Coot is abundant on all ponds and sheets of water, It 
also frequents deep holes and still reaches in rivers, concealing itself 
amid the herbage during the day, and feeding morning and evening 
about the banks. It wanders at these times several hundred yards 
from its lair, and on being alarmed, scuttles away on its feet, aided 
by its wings, until, a sufficient impetus being attained, it rises in the 
air, and willnot unfrequently fly avery long distance. It swims well 
and boldly, and we have seen it alight on the waters of Table Bay 
and breast a considerable sea. It constructs a nest in September 
of sedge usually floating among the rushes, and lays seven eggs, 
of a cream-coloured ground, covered with dark-brown spots: axis, 
2” 1'"; diam., 1’ 6’”.. The young when first hatched are little black 
balls of soft down, but they swim and dive almost from the moment 
of leaving the egg. 
Mr. Rickard informs us that it is found near Port Hlizabeth, being 
common in the Swartkops, sometimes found in small vleys. In 
Natal, writes Mr. Ayres, “these Coots inhabit the lagoons, and are , 
