BRITISH BIRDS. 147 



THE OLIVACEOUS GALLINULE. 



MONTAGU figures and describes this bird, which 

 he terms Gallinula I^oljambei, from a specimen in 

 the museum of F. Eoljambe, Esq., of Osberton, as 

 a species not before noticed. He also mentions 

 another of the same kind being shot on the banks 

 of the Thames, about the same time that Mr. 

 Foljambe got his bird. According to his descrip- 

 tion, it differs chiefly from the Little Gallinule in 

 being of a more plain plumage, being composed of 

 deeper and lighter shades of cinereous olive brown, 

 and in wanting the white spots and other markings 

 of the latter bird, and being feathered nearer to 

 the knees. Our drawing was made many years 

 ago, from a preserved specimen in the Wycliffe 

 Museum, but Ave did not then venture upon de- 

 scribing it as a new species, and it is only from 

 such authorities as Mr. Foljambe and Mr. Montagu 

 that the opinion is now adopted. No opportunity 

 occurred of examining the under plumage of our 

 bird, but the whole of the upper parts, from the 

 head to the tail, were of a deep olive brown, with 

 the middle of each feather more or less marked 

 with a black or dusky spot. 



