GALLINULIN^E. 365 



The Pheasant-tailed Jacana occurs commonly throughout the 

 district. It is a permanent resident, breeding about the middle 

 of the rains, or a little later. 



The nest is a heap of weeds, placed in the water in the midst 

 of grass or rushes. The eggs, invariably four in number, are 

 peg-top shape ; the shell is compact and hard and is highly glossy ; 

 the ground color varies from greenish-bronze to rufous-brown 

 bronze ; they are unspotted. 



They measure 1'46 in length by 112 in breadth. 



FAMILY, Rallidse. 



Bill more or less compressed, short, pointed, and wedge-shaped ; 

 nostrils median, in a short groove, pervious ; legs stout ; tarsus 

 short, or moderately long ; feet large ; wings moderate or short, 

 and rounded, usually with a tubercle or small spur on the 

 flexure ; tail short or almost wanting. 



SUB-FAMILY, Gallinulinae. 



Bill with the keel advancing on the forehead, where there is 

 usually a casque ; toes long and slender or bordered by a scol- 

 loped web ; wings short and rounded ; hind-toe long. 



GENUS, Porphyrio, Srisson. 



Bill very strong, thick, conic, depressed ; base prolonged into a 

 thick horny casque covering the forehead and the top of the 

 head ; upper mandible very thick, curving from the base, point- 

 ed ; lower mandible less thick ; gonys ascending ; gape gently 

 curving ; nares apert, oval in the middle of the bill ; wings mode- 

 rate, ample ; tail short ; tarsus lengthened, strong ; toes very^ 

 long, free, bordered by a narrow web; claws long, very slightly 

 curved. 



Porphyrio poliocephalus, Zatham. 



902. Jerdon*s Birds of India, Vol. II/p. 713 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 20 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 

 IX, p. 431 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 260 ; 

 Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 135. 



THE PUEPLE COOT. 

 Keim, Hin. 



Length, 18 to 19 ; expanse, 30 to 32; wing, 10; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 

 3-5. 



Bill red, culmen darker, a blood-red spot at base of each mandi- 

 ble ; casque cherry-red ^ irides dull red ; legs dull pale brick-red. 



Lores, round tiie eyes, cheeks, head, and nape, purple tinged 

 with grey on the sides, and gradually passing into the purer purple 

 of the hind-neck, back, and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts pale 

 blue ; the quills dull Antwerp-blue, dusky on their inner webs ; 

 tail black, the feathers slightly edged dull blue ; beneath, the 



