PORPHYRIO. 



127 



Genus PORPHYRIO, Briss. 



Porphyrio caeruleus (Vandelli). 



Porphyrio veterum, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 44. fig. 6 (1855-63) ; 



Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 299 (1876). 

 Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Salvin, Ibis, 1859, p. 361 ; Bree, Birds Eur. iv. 



p. 77, p i. _ (1867) ; 2nd ed. v. p. 44, pi. (1876) ; Saunders, Ibis, 



1871, p. 225. 

 Porphyrio caeruleus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 194 (1894) ; id. 



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



The eggs of the European Purple Gallinule vary in form from 

 oval to elliptical, and they have very little gloss. The ground 

 ranges from cream-colour to pinkish buff and this is marked, rather 

 thickly, with specks, spots and, sometimes, with small blotches of 

 reddish brown, chocolate-brown and pale purple. The markings 

 on the majority of the eggs are well-defined and roundish in shape ; 

 on a few they are blotchy and blurred at the edges. The markings 

 are somewhat larger and more numerous at the broad end. Twelve 

 specimens measure from 2 to 2-25 in length, and from 1-35 to 1-5 

 in breadth. 



2. Goto de Doiiana, Andalucia (H. 



Saunders}. 



3. Playa de la Kesina, Seville, 23rd April 



(H. S.). 



2. North Africa. 

 1. Zana, Algeria (O. Salviri). 

 1. Zana, 6th June (0. S.). 

 1. Zana, 9th June (O. S.}. 

 1. Zana, 10th June (O. S.). 

 1. Zana, 15th June (0. S.). 



Seebohm Coll. 

 Seebohin Coll. 



Gould Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 



Porphyrio poliocephalus (Lath.). 

 (Plate X. fig. 3.) 



Porphyrio poliocephalus, Leqge, Birds Ceyl. p. 795 (1880) ; Oates ed. 

 Hume, Nests $ Eggs Ind. B. iii. p. 384 (1890) ; Barnes, Journ. Bomb. 

 Nat. Hist. Soc. vi. p. 135, pi. . fig. 902 (1891) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds 

 B. M. xxiii. p. 197 (1894) : Dresser, Birds Eur. ix. (Suppl.) p. 333 

 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 108 (1899). 



The eggs of the Indian Blue Gallinule are on the average smaller 

 than those of P. cceruleus, but do not otherwise differ in any 

 essential particular. They measure from 1-75 to 2-15 in length, 

 and from 1'23 to 1*45 in breadth. 



1. India. Purchased. 



6. Eastern Narra, Sind (S. Doig}. Hume Coll. 



3. Loyah Bridge, Etawah, 23rd Aug. Hume Coll. 



(W. E. Brooks). 



3. Loyah Bridge, 25th Aug. ( W. E. B.). Hume Coll. 



1. Utchulda, Etawah, 8th Aug. (W. Hume Coll. 



E. B.). 



2. Utchulda, 18th Aug. ( W. E. B.). Hume Coll. 



