GALLINULA CHLOROPUS 271 



GALLINULA CHLOROPUS (Linna3us.) 

 MOOR-HEN. 



Fulica chloropus, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 258 (1766). 



Gallinula chloropus, Lath. Lid. Om. ii, p. 773 (1790) ; Sharpe, Cat. 



Birds Brit. Mas. xxiii, p. 169; Malherbe, Faune Om. de I'Alcj. p. 33 



(1855); Lochc, E.rpl. Sci. Ahj. Ois. ii, p. 347 (1867); Koenig, J. f. 0. 



1888, p. 275 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 88 ; Whitaker, Ibis. 1895, p. 105 ; 



Erlangcr, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 44. 



Description. — Adult male, spriog, from North Tunisia. 



Head, nape and mantle, dark brownish-slate ; rest of the upper-parts 

 dark olive-brown, the wings bordered externally with a narrow white line ; 

 underparts dark slate, becoming greyish on the middle of the abdomen, and 

 striped with white on the flanks ; under tail-coverts white, with a central 

 tuft of black feathers. 



Iris red ; base of bill and frontal shield sealing-wax red ; tip of bill yellow ; 

 feet green, with a small red band above the tarsal joint. 



Total length 12 inches, wing 6-50, cuhnen, with shield, 1-35, tarsus, 1-80. 



Adult female resembles the male. 



Immature birds have the upper-parts olive-brown, the throat white, and 

 the remainder of the underparts greyish, while the bill, shield (which is 

 small) and feet are greenish. 



The Water-hen, or Moor-hen, is common and resident throughout 

 North Tunisia, and is also to be found in some parts of the south 

 of the Eegency, such as the neighbourhood of Tatahouiue and Gabes, 

 M^here it also breeds. 



In Algeria and Marocco, and throughout North Africa generally, 

 the species is numerous and resident, while in other parts of that 

 Continent southwards to the Cape of Good Hope, it is equally common 

 either in its typical or in slightly modified forms. It appears also 

 to be resident in the Canaries, Madeira, and the Azores. Throughout 

 the greater part of Europe and Asia the species is generally distributed, 

 closely allied forms being met with in some parts of the latter Con- 

 tinent, as well as in America and Australia. 



The Moor-hen frequents ponds, lakes, marshes and streams 

 bordered with reeds or other aquatic plants and although rather 

 secretive and retiring, is fond of resorting to open water. It is 

 an excellent swimmer and diver, and runs with rapidity on land. 

 Its flight, on the other hand, is feeble and heavy, until the bird 



