276 



BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



where in Egypt, although it probably ranges throughout the 

 country. 



Head, neck, and undcrparts deep slate-colour, shaded with 

 dull white on the centre of the abdomen ; under tail-coverts 

 white ; quills and tail brownish black ; remainder of the upper 

 surface deep olive-brown ; the wings narrowly edged with 

 white, and some of the feathers on the flanks having white 

 streaks down their centres ; the frontal shield and beak red, 

 tipped with yellow ; legs olive-green, with a red and yellow 

 patch below the feathered part ; irides brown. 



Entire length 14 inches; culmen 1"1 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 7'2 ; tarsus 2. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 342. 



291. PoRPHTRio Alleni. Allen s Gallimde. 



This Gallinule, which is of smaller size and more graceful 

 form than P. hyacintldnus, has been found by Mr. S. Staf- 

 ford Allen in Lower Egypt ; and an immature specimen, 

 which he procured near Alexandria, is now in the collection 

 of Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser, who have kindly lent it to me 

 for description in the present work. 



Adult. — Back, wings, and tail green ; under tail-coverts 

 white; remainder of the plumage indigo-blue, inclining to 

 black on the head, neck, rump, and abdomen ; beak and 

 frontal shield red, tinged with orange ; irides reddish brown ; 

 legs pink. 



Immatfure plumage. — Top and sides of the head clear brown ; 

 back and scapulars sandy brown, with olive-brown centres to 

 the feathers ; rump and tail dark brown, the feathers of the 



