GS3 EEroRT OF State Geologist. 



Pr. I.angdon says: ''Dr. Hunt informs me of the capture of this spe- 

 cies near the mouth of the Big Miami Eiver on March 31, 1S77," 

 (Cat. Birds Tie. Cin., 187;, p. l(^). The mouth of the river men- 

 tioned is in huhana, but T do not know the kication of the site where 

 the specimen was taken. Three other specimens are noted from the 

 vicinity of Cincinmiti that same spring. It was taken near Circleville 

 May 10, 187r. (Wheaton, Birds of Ohio, p. 514.) Prof. E. L. 

 ]\Iosok\v informs me of the capture of a Purple Gallinule near 

 Sandusky, 0., April 28, 1896 (The Auk, Vol. XIV, No. 2. April, 

 1897, p. 200). Mr. Thomas Mcllwraith notes the capture of a speci- 

 men at Pickering, Ontario, in April, 1892 (Birds of Ontario, 1894, 

 p. 123). The nest is made in the tall grass along the edges of water 

 courses, bending the grass down and weaving it together. In South 

 Carolina the nest is said to be built in rushes over the water. Besides 

 its true nest, the bird makes several "'shams," often as many as five 

 or six (Davie). The bird may be readily recognized by its bright 

 purplish-blue colors. 



M. Grnis (iWLLlNULA Brisson. 



^^82. (-M!t). Galliiuila galeata (Lu ht ). 



Florida Gallinule. 



Head, neck and underparts, grayish-black, darkest on tlie head, 

 paler or whitening on the belly; back, brownish-olive; wings and tail, 

 dusky; crissum. edge of wing and stripes on tlie tlank. white; bill, fron- 

 tal plate and ring around tibi;v, red. the former tipped with yellow; 

 t.jirsi and toes, greenish. Downi/ Youiuj. — Glossy black, throat and 

 cheek?, with silvery-white hairs. 



Length, 12.00-14.50; wing, 6.85-7.25; bill (to end of frontal shield), 

 1.70-1.85; tarsus, 2.10-2.30. 



Kangk.— America, from Brazil and Cliili north to Elaine, Ontario 

 and Minnesota. Breeds from that limit south. Winters from Gulf 

 States south. 



Nest, of reeds and rushes on foundation of similar growth, near 

 water level in nu\rehes, sloughs or reedy places in lakes. Efjgs, 8-13; 

 brownish-bulT. thickly spotted with reddish-brown; 1.74 by 1.19. 



Ixegular migrant. Summer resident among the more extensive 

 swamps and marshes. Locally common; some places abundant. 

 Breeds. 



It is resident throughout the Southern States, and our summer birds 

 return south and many winter in the same region. They come north 

 iU spring, through April and early May. The earliest record I have is 



