270 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



town of that name. The hird in question was shot by a local 

 sportsman, Signor Viucenzo Auteri, who, fortunately, recognising its 

 rarity, took it to a taxidermist. The sex of the specimen was not 

 ascertained, but judging from the length of its wing (6'10 inches), it 

 appears to be a male. The average length of the wing in a series of 

 examples of this species in my collection, is 6 inches in the case of 

 males, and 5-60 in that of females. 



According to Sig. Auteri another of these birds was seen by him 

 about the middle of January, 1903, not far from the Lake of Lentini, 

 also near Catania, but was not secured. 



An immature bird of this species is recorded by Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 as having been obtained off Yarmouth on January 1st, 1902 (Zoologist, 

 1902, p. 18). This appears to be the sixth recorded instance of the 

 occurrence of this tropical species in Europe, and that mentioned 

 above as having occurred at Catania, would be the seventh. Of the 

 five previously recorded captures four appear to have been effected 

 in Italy and one in Spain. Of the four examples obtained in Italy 

 no less than three came from the neighbourhood of Lucca, in Tuscany, 

 the fourth being from the vicinity of Pachino, in Sicily. 



As observed by Prof. Giglioli (Avifauna Italica, p. 354), it is a 

 singular fact, and one worthy of notice, as being contrary to the 

 generally accepted ideas regarding the laws governing the migration 

 of birds, that the cases recorded of the occurrence in Europe of this 

 tropical species should all have occurred during the autumn or winter 

 months. Whether this points to a northward migration on the part 

 of the species at this season instead of in spring, it is impossible to say, 

 but in any case the individuals found in Europe can only be regarded 

 as birds that have strayed out of their course. 



P. alleni ranges throughout a considerable portion of Africa, and is 

 found in many districts both in the east and west of that continent. 

 It also occurs in Madagascar, and has been found in Madeira and the 

 Azores. 



In its habits it is stated to resemble the common Moor-hen, more 

 than the preceding species or others of that genus, and though 

 frequenting the same dense vegetation, it appears to be fonder of 

 swimming about in open water, particularly of a morning and evening. 

 It feeds on the tender parts of water-plants and on their seeds, as 

 well as on worms and insects. Its note is described as harsh, though, 

 according to Prof. Barboza de Bocage, it resembles the voice of a 

 human being. 



