126 RALLID^. 



blotches of pale purple, generally inconspicuous; the surface- 

 markings consist of blotches and streaks of reddish brown ; at 

 times profusely set over the whole shell, almost concealing the 

 ground ; at others, sparingly scattered over the egg, except at 

 the large end, where they frequently form a cap. The intensity 

 of the reddish brown varies a good deal in different specimens. 

 Numerous examples measure from 1'55 to 1'8 in length, and from 

 1-1 to 1-3 in breadth. 



2. Purneah, Bengal, 15th Aug. Hume Coll. 



3. Tipperah, Aug. ( V. Irwiri). Hume Coll. 

 3. Pegu, 20th June (E. W. Oates). Hume Coll. 

 6. Pegu, 26th June (E. W. O.). Hume Coll. 



2. Pegu, 17th July (E. W. O,). Hume Coll. 

 1. Pegu, 7th Aug. (E. W. O.). Hume Coll. 

 1. Pegu, 7th Aug. (E. W. 0.). Oates Coll. 



1. Pegu, 7th Aug. (J& W. 0.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Shanghai, June (R. Sivinhoe). Seebohm Coll. 



3. Canton (R. S.}. Seebohm Coll. 

 10. Formosa (R. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



Genus PORPHYRIOLA, Blyfh. 



Porphyriola alleni (Thorns.). 



Porphyrio alleni, Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 307 (1880). 

 Porphyriola alleni, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 187 (1894) ; id. 

 Hand-l i. p. 108 (1899). 



The sole egg of Allen's Gallinule contained in the Collection was 

 extracted from the body of a bird shot by Mr. Percival. It is 

 fractured, but its approximate dimensions are 1-4 by 1-05. The 

 ground is of a pinkish cream-colour, and this is marked, more thickly 

 at the larger end than elsewhere, with specks, spots, and small 

 blotches of reddish brown and underlying pale purple. 



1. Ruo River, British Central Africa. A. B. Percival, Esq. [P.]. 



Porphyriola martinica (Linn.). 



Gallinula martinicensis, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Vog. tab. Ixxii. fig. 12 



(1845-54). 

 lonornis martinica, Baird, Brewer fy Ridgiv. Water Birds N. Am, i. 



p. 384 (1884). 

 Porphyriola martinica, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 189 (1894) ; 



id. Hand-l. i. p. 108 (1899). 



The eggs of the American Purple Gallinule are of a blunt oval 

 form, with a small amount of gloss. They are of a pinkish cream- 

 colour closely speckled with minute dots of chocolate-brown and 

 underlying pale purple. The markings are very distinct and small. 

 Four specimens measure respectively: 1*6 by 1-1; 158 by 1*13; 

 1-6 by 1-07 ; 1-57 by 1-1. 



4. Panama (J. McLeannan). Salvin-G odman Coll. 



