328 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



clearly observed young Waterhens busily assisting 

 the old birds in the construction of a second or third 

 nest, or a platform of " bolder " rushes, which these 

 fowl apparently use simply as a resting-, or perhaps 

 roosting-, station. Passing Wigeon and Teal, 

 Pochards, and Goldeneyes seem to be often induced 

 to alight on waters unknown to them by the sight of 

 Waterhens, but the latter never allow a stranger to 

 remain long in their close neighbourhood without 

 attacking and, if possible, driving it off. 



129. PURPLE GALLINULE. 



Porpliyrio cceruleus. 



In the month of June 1870 a very fine specimen of 

 this handsome species, that had been caught on the 

 London and North-western Railway near Welling- 

 borough by the bearer on the previous day, was 

 brought alive to Lilford, and lived for seven or eight 

 years in my aviary. Several other instances of the 

 occurrence of this bird and its close congener the 

 Green-backed Gallinule (Porpliyrio smaragdonotus) 

 have been recorded from various parts of Great 

 Britain ; but modern writers on ornithology seem 

 inclined to deny these a place amongst British birds, 

 on the ground of the probability of their escape 

 from captivity. I will, as shortly as possible, give 

 my reasons for taking a different view, at least so far 

 as the present species is concerned. I am, of course, 

 prepared to admit the possibility, even the proba- 

 bility, of escape in some instances, but my five-and- 

 thirty years' experience as a purchaser of living birds 

 has proved to me that the Purple Gallinule, though 



