2 50 GRUIFORMES 



CHAP. 



fleshy horn springs from the forehead, said to become very small 

 in winter, and to be wanting in the female, which is varied below 

 with white and buff. It has a loud booming cry, and fights like 

 a domestic Cock, but otherwise resembles the Gallinules in habits. 



Porphyrio comprises some dozen fine species with blue plumage, 

 found in Africa and Madagascar, and from the Mediterranean to 

 South China and Polynesia ; several individuals, probably escaped 

 from captivity, being recorded from Britain. P. caeruleus (veterum) 

 is purplish- blue above with blacker remiges and rectrices, and 

 purplish-black below with bright blue cheeks, throat, and chest, and 

 white under tail-coverts ; the bill, shield, and feet are red. It is 

 chiefly a Mediterranean bird, but reaches Mesopotamia. Others 

 of its congeners are greener or blacker. The habits, nest, and 

 eggs are like those of the Coot, whereas the next genus in 

 the writer's opinion inseparable appears more akin in manners 

 to the Moor-Hen. Pooyhyriola alleni occurs in Africa, with 

 Madagascar and Eodriguez, and strays to the Canary Islands 

 and South Europe ; P. martinica ranges from Florida, Texas, or 

 even Xew England, to the West Indies and Brazil ; P. imrva, 

 from the last-named to Amazonia and Guiana. Poiyliyriofs 

 crassirostris and P. melano2]s occupy South America. 



Notornis mantelli of New Zealand,^ now probably extinct, was 

 olive-green above with only a tinge of blue ; the head, neck, and 

 under surface being dark purplish-blue, the l)ill, shield, and feet 

 red. It was practically a gigantic Porpliyrio with very stout legs, 

 short wings, and soft tail, which was unable to fly, but ran with 

 great swiftness, being solitary and retiring. Its native name 

 " Moho " is that also given to other Piails in New Zealand, and 

 Pennnla ecaudata in Hawaii ; it therefore may only mean " Eail." 

 The white K alba of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands certainly 

 exists no longer. 



Fulica includes twelve species, of which the majority are 

 South American, though the genus extends over most of the globe; 

 Polynesia possesses only F. alai of the Sandwich Islands, but 

 three of the members reach I'atagonia. F. atra, our grey-black 

 Coot, with flesh-coloured bill, white shield and ^reenish less relieved 



CO 



by an orange garter, ranges through Europe and Asia, and to 

 North Africa and the Philippines southwards ; its habits are well- 



^ Dr. A. B. ]Meyer considers the remains found in the North Island {X. mantcUi) 

 to be distinct from the South Island species, which he names N. hochstctteri. 



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