SCARLET-FRONTED GALLINULE. 381 



SCARLET-FRONTED GALLINULE.* 



Gallinula galeata, 



Gallinula cMoropus, BoN. — Aud. pi. 244. 



Gallinula yaleata. Light. 



By a confusion of terms this species is called in 

 Jamaica the Coot, while the following is known by 

 the name of Water-hen. 



This bird is scarcely to be distinguished from 

 the European Moor-hen, in appearance or in man- 

 ners. It delights in any water where there is cover ; 

 sometimes a swiftly running stream, as Sweet River, 

 where the bushes dip their branches into the water, 

 or the margins are fringed with high weeds ; but 

 more usually large ponds, in which tall and thick 

 bulrushes densely grow, or masses of the great 

 ginger-fern. On approaching such a piece of water 

 early in the morning, or at any hour of the day, 

 if the place be unfrequented, we may see the 

 Gallinules playing on the surface, some by their 

 black plumage and scarlet shields, known to be 

 females, the browner males less dressy, as becomes 

 their sex, and some smaller and greyer, which 

 are young. As they swim to and fro, they utter 

 a loud cluck at short intervals ; but on alarm 

 each one sounds the note in a higher key, and 



* Length 13J inches, expanse 204, flexure 6^, tail 2|, rictus 1 ^, 

 breadth of shield 4 . height from base of lower mandible to top of shield 1 , 

 tarsus 2§, middle toe 3. Hind claw smallest. 



