BIEDS OF EGYPT. 277 



latter edged with paler brown ; quills dark brown, primaries 

 shaded with olive on their outer webs; wing-coverts olive, 

 edged with sandy colour ; chin, centre of the chest, and 

 abdomen white; remainder of the underparts sandy, ex- 

 cepting the flanks and thighs, which are indigo-blue ; irides 

 light brown. 



Entire length 9-3 inches; culmen 1*45; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 5'8 ; tarsus 2. 



292. PoRPHYRio HYACiNTHiNUS, Tcmm. Violet Gallimle. 



The present species is abundant in the Fayoom, where 

 I have frequently shot it, but have never met with it else- 

 where in Egypt, although it is probably plentiful also in 

 some of the lakes of Lower Egypt. It frequents the thick 

 beds of reeds and half-sunken bushes, and, like the Common 

 Moor-Hen, is very partial to perching up in them, and if 

 unobserved, will remain there motionless until the sportsman 

 has passed, before taking wing. 



Back of the head, neck, and wings ultramarine, with the 

 exception of the inner web of the quills ; back and scapulars 

 green ; cheeks and throat bluish green ; chest indigo ; 

 abdomen black ; under tail-coverts white ; legs pink ; beak 

 and shield on the forehead red ; irides ferruginous brown. 



Entire length 17 inches; beak, from the underpart of the 

 shield, 2*8 ; wing, carpus to tip, 9"7 ; tarsus 3'5. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 340. 



