PORPHYEIO C^RULEtrS 263 



herbage, often in a corn or clover field, is merely formed of a few 

 grass-bents or other plants. The eggs, from seven to twelve in 

 number, are of a pale buff-colour, spotted with grey shell-marks and 

 dark rufous surface-blotches. Average measurements 36 x 27 mm. 



This bird's Italian name of Be di Quaglie (King of Quails), as 

 also its Spanish names of Bey de los Codornices and Guia de los Godor- 

 nices (Guide of the Quails), are no doubt due to the fact that the 

 species is often found in the same localities as the Quail, as well as 

 perhaps to a certain resemblance in its plumage to that bird. Quail- 

 shooters in Sicily often meet with the species, and many of them look 

 upon it as a large and fine variety of the Quail ! 



PORPHYRIO CffiRULEUS (Vandelli). 



PUEPLE GALLINULE. 



Fulica cserulea, Vandelli, Flor. at Faun. Lusit. Spec, in Mem. Acad. 



Real. Lisb. i, p. 37 (1797). 

 Porphyrio cseruleus, Sclater, Ibis, 1879, p. 196 ; Sharpe, Gat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. xxiii, p. 191; Whitaker, Ibis, 1898, p. 126. 

 Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Malherbe, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 21 (1846) ; 



Kocnig J.f. 0. 1888, p. 275; id. J.f. 0. 189.3, p. 88. 

 Porphyrio Yeterum, Loche, E.cpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 345 (1867). 

 Porphyrio porphyrio, Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 45. 



Description. — Adalt male, spring, from North Tunisia. 



Nearly the entire plumage deep blue, brightest on the cheeks and fore- 

 neck, rather duller on the crown and nape, and becoming dull black on the 

 lower abdomen, and on the inner webs of the quills ; under tail-coverts 

 pure white. 



Iris carmine ; bill and frontal shield dull sealing-wax red ; feet rose-red. 



Total length 19 inches, wing 10-75, culmen, with shield, 2-8, tarsus 3-7, 

 middle toe, with claw, 4-5. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



The immature bird is much duller and more dusky in its coloration, 

 and the chick in down is black, with a white bill and shield and rosy flesh- 

 coloured feet. 



The range of this handsome species is not extensive and appears 

 to be confined to North-west Africa, Southern Spain and Portugal, 

 the Balearic Isles, Sicily and Sardinia. Accidentally it has been 



