138 



PURPLE GALLINULE 

 218. lonornis martinicus. 13 in. 



Bill shorter and stouter than that of the rails, and 

 with a hard shield at the base, that extends on the fore- 

 head to the top of the head. This species is beautifully 

 colored with purplish-red and blue on the underparts, 

 and greenish on the back and wings; legs yellow; bill 

 carmine, tipped with yellow. The habits of the galli- 

 nules are practically the same as those of the rails. 

 They inhabit marshes, where they creep cautiously but 

 rapidly through the upright stalks, or run over the 

 slimy surface, where none but birds with extremely long 

 toes could get a foothold. Their powers of flight are 

 weak, and they do not take wing unless they are cor- 

 nered or wish to cross some stream. 



Nest. Woven of grasses and rushes, and placed either 

 on the ground or attached to living rushes, usually over 

 the water; their 5 to 10 eggs are rich cream color, 

 spotted with reddish brown (1.60x1.15). 



Range. Breeds in eastern United States, north to 

 North Carolina and southern Illinois; winters south of 

 the U. S. 



