BRITISH BIRDS. 145 



THE LITTLE GALLINULE. 



(Gallinula Pusilla, Bechst. Poule-d'emi poussin, 

 Temm.) 



THE above figure was taken from a stuffed speci- 

 men obligingly lent to this work by the Hon. H. 

 T. Liddell, and the weight and length are quoted 

 from Mr. Montagu's description, who treats of this 

 bird as a hitherto undescribed species under the 

 title of Gallinula Minuta. We had, however, seen 

 the bird some years ago: it was caught b}^ the 

 dogs of our friend, the late Major H. F. Gibson, in 

 a boggy place, covered with reeds and rushes, near 

 the Tyne; we had no opportunity at the time of 

 taking either a drawing or description from it, but 

 recollect its being somewhat more distinctly and 

 beautifully spotted than the specimen now before 

 us. The weight two ounces; length seven inches 

 and three quarters ; the bill five-eighths of an inch 



VOL. II. T 



