GALLINULE. GRALLATORES. GALLINULA. 189 



Gallinula fusca, Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 771. sp. 15. 

 Fulica fusca, Linn. Syst. 1. 257. 1 Gmel Syst. 1. 697. 

 Gallinula minor, Briss. Ornith. 6. 6. f. 2. 



Gallinula alia, Aldrw Will. 234 Id. (Angl.) 314. and 319. [ 



La Poulette d'Eau, Buff. Ois. 8. 177- 



Brown Gallinule, Lath. Syn. 5. 260. 14. 



Gallinula flavipes et fistulans, Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 773- sp. 21. et 22 



Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 702. 

 Yellow-legged, and Piping Gallinule, Lath. Syn. 5. 260. and 267. sp. 20. et 



21. These are taken from GESNER, who appears to have described them 



from imperfect drawings. 



PROVINCIAL. Moor-Hen, Marsh-Hen, Stank-Hen, Cuddy, Water-Hen^ 

 Moor-Coot. 



THIS well known bird is indigenous, and very generally 

 dispersed throughout the kingdom, inhabiting old water 

 courses, and ponds covered with aquatic herbage, as well as 

 brooks and rivers, particularly such as flow with a deep and 

 slow current, and are bordered by sedges, willow bushes, &c. 

 It is also dispersed throughout the European continent, 

 where it is permanently stationary in the warmer and tem- 

 perate districts, but migratory as it approaches nearer to the 

 north. The species is also found in parts of Asia and Africa. 

 The habits of the Gallinule are decidedly aquatic, as it swims 

 from choice, and is indeed more frequently seen in the wa- 

 tery element than upon land ; it also dives with ease, not 

 only to avoid impending danger, but as it would appear for 

 the purpose of obtaining food ; as I have several times 

 known it to have been taken by a line baited with an earth- 

 worm for catching eels or trout. It is thus in all probability 

 that the Gallinule obtains the larger coleopterous water in- 

 sects, aquatic worms, and the larvae of dragon-flies, &c. 

 When suddenly surprised in a situation at all exposed, it 

 usually takes wing, skimming along the surface of the water, 

 but only for a short distance, to the first bush or cover that 

 offers, where it conceals itself so effectually, either by sub- 

 merging its body, and keeping only the bill above water, or 

 in some hole or shelving retreat in the bank, as generally to 

 defeat any attempts at raising it a second time, even with 

 the assistance of a dog. Its flight is heavy, and when for a 



