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specimen that was shot on Staten Island. Mr. Baird informs me that 

 it is occasionally observed on the Susquehannah and its tributaries. 

 The Common Gallinule is usually met with in the vicinity of 

 fresh water streams and ponds. It is exceedingly timid — conceals 

 itself among the rank grass — and, like the Rails, it seldom takes 

 wing, except when performing its migratory flight. When sur- 

 prised, it runs nimbly — and, if hard pressed, takes to the water, and 

 swims and dives well, although the formation of its feet does not 

 seem calculated for aquatic pursuits, other wading through shallow 

 water. Its food consists of worms, insects, and various vegetable 

 productions that take their gro^vth on low, wet grounds, 



GALLINULA MARTINICA— LINN. 

 PURPLE GALLINULE. 



Purple Gallinule, Galliiiula Porphyrio, Wils. 



Gallinuala Martinica, Bonap. Syn. 



Purple Gallinule, Nuft. Man. 



Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Mariinica, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Specific Character — Frontal plate blue ; bill at the base carmine, 

 toward the point greenish-yellow. Adult with the head, fore part 

 of the neck and breast, purple ; abdomen greenish-black ; lower 

 tail coverts white ; upper parts green, with golden tints on the fore 

 part of back ; inner webs of the quills dusky — outer webs green ; 

 sides and hind part of neck, and sides of the body tinged with blue ; 

 irides light red. Length thirteen inches, wing seven. 



In the southern part of the Union, the Purple Gallinule is a con- 

 stant resident. Stragglers occasionally wander along the coast as 

 far as Massachusetts, and the occurrence of this elegant bird on 

 Long Island is exceedingly rare. According to Wilson, itmakes its 

 appearance on the sea islands of Georgia in the latter part of April, 

 and after spending the summer, it departs with its young to its 

 winter residence. 



