GALLINULES. 221 



tion beneath water; when swimming the 

 feet are moved as in walking and the head 

 is moved backwards and forward with them. 

 Notes, a harsh. Rail-like kea repeated several 

 times and given more often at night-fall and 

 a metallic chuck when annoyed. Flight, 

 direct with rapid wing-beats and dangling 

 legs. Temperate and tropical America from 

 Brazil and Chili north to Canada; rare in N. 

 E. and middle States; resident in Fla., migra- 

 tory further north. 



186. PURPLE GALLINULE. 



Smaller, 12.50; bright brown-green 

 above; blue-purple beneath; sides, greenish; 

 under tail coverts, white; bill, red tipped 

 with yellow; frontal plate, larger and blue; 

 fig. 163. Young, duller above, reddish 

 mixed with white below. South Atlantic 

 and Gulf States south through the W. I., 

 Mex., C. A. and northern S. A.; rare or 

 casual north to Me., N. Y. and Wis.. migra- 

 tory in the U. S., going south in Sept., 

 north in May. Habits, similar to those of last. 



