PORPHYRIO. (535 



Gen. PorphyriO- Sriss. 



Bill very thick; casque large; mid-toe as long as tarsi, slender, not fring'ed 

 with web. 



Porphyrio poliocephalus, The Purple Coot. 



1320. Porphyrio poliocephalus (Lath.), Jerd., B. ind. iii. 



p. 713 ; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 161 ; Butler, Str. F. iv. p. 20 ; Oates, Str. F. vi. 

 p. 165 ; Ellwt, Str. F. vii, p. 22 ; Legge, B. Ceylon p. 795 ; Murray, Vert. 

 Zool., Sind, p. 260; Oates, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 351. Gallinula poliocephala, 

 Lath., Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. Ixviii. Porphyrio neglectus, Scheg. Mus. P. ., 

 Ralli, p. 53 ; Hume, Str. F. i. p. 249 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs p. 594; id., 

 Str. F. iii. p. 185. The PURPLE COOT. 



Occiput and nape, lores, and round the eyes greyish, clouded with purple; 

 cheeks, chin and throat the same, but with more of a purple tinge ; neck in 

 front and breast pale bluish ; lower breast, abdomen, flanks, vent and thigh 

 coverts dark purplish blue ; under tail coverts white ; back of neck, back, rump, 

 and upper tail coverts purplish blue ; scapulars, wing coverts and outer webs 

 of primaries pale greenish blue, the inner webs of primaries, secondaries and 

 tertials dark brown or black ; tail black, the feathers on the outer web edged 

 with bluish. 



Length. 18 inches; wing 10 to IO'2 ; tail 4-5 ; bill at gape 1-62 ; tarsi 3-62 ; 

 mid-toe 3*62 ; casque and spot at base of bill cherry red ; bill red ; irides red ; 

 legs crimson. 



Hab. Throughout India, Ceylon and British Burmah ; also in Persia, Beloo- 

 chistan and Afghanistan. Common in Sind in suitable localities, but I do 



