PURPLE GALLINULE. 337 



THE PURPLE GALLINULE. 

 PORPH YRIO H YA CINTHINUS. 



A SPECIMEN of this bird, the sex of which was not noted, was shot 

 near Campbeltown, in Argyleshire, in the first week of December, 

 1863, and sent in the flesh to Mr M'Culloch, bird stuffer, Glasgow, 

 in whose hands I saw it. The specimen was afterwards exhibited 

 by Dr Dewar at a meeting of the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow. 



This splendid species appears to be found abundantly in the 

 southern parts of Europe, and is a native of Italy, Sicily, the Ionian 

 Islands, Sardinia, and France. It has, in fact, a somewhat 

 extensive geographical range, being well known over a great por- 

 tion of Africa, as well as India. In these countries the bird 

 delights the ornithologist as it rises from its sedgy haunts, its blue 

 plumage flashing in the sunlight with a peculiar lustre. 



Quoting from Degland, Dr Bree, in his ' History of the Birds 

 of Europe,' etc., states that "this beautiful water-hen is by nature 

 gentle and timorous, and does not leave its solitude unless driven 

 from it by hunger or danger. Its simplicity is such that it will 

 allow itself to be taken alive by the boatmen as it plunges to 

 escape from them. It is also, according to the same authority, 

 easily tamed, and is brought up in some countries in the poultry 

 yards among the fowls, and is contented with the same food that 

 they have." Its habits as observed by other writers, however, can 

 hardly be reconciled with these remarks. Writing from Eastern 

 Africa, Mr Salvin (Ibis, vol. i., p. 361) says it keeps very 

 much out of sight among weeds, quietly devouring the contents of 

 ducks' nests ; while Mr Tristram, who had observed it in abundance 

 on the northern lakes of the same continent (Ibis, vol. ii., p. 80) 

 mentions that he had seen one seize a young duckling in its huge 

 foot and crush its head with its bill, after which it ate the brains 

 and left the rest of the carcase untouched. Such a carnivorous 

 appetite but ill accords with the fine purple clothing of the bird, 

 and certainly lessens the regret one must feel at the inhospitable 

 reception this "foreign ambassador" met with on reaching our 

 shores. Our duck and snipe preserves can well dispense with so 

 dangerous a visitor. 



Having observed the same, or at least a nearly allied species in 



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