GALL1NULA MAKT1N1CA. 433 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern Nortli America. Length, 13'50; stretch, 22M10; win;!, 0'70; tail, 8'Sfl; 

 hill, 1-1-J; tarsus, 1 7f>. longest specimen, U'OO; greatest extent of wing, 23-00; longest win.;,', 7 <K>; toil, 3'(K>; bill, 1 25; 

 tarsus, a-J5. Shortest .specimen, 13-00; smallest extent of wing, 2HX); shortest wing, 0'4(>; tail, 2'00; bill, 1 '00; tarsus, 1"J5. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Netts, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eygs, from eight to ten in nuinlicr, 

 oval in form, creamy-buff in color, spotted and dotted witli brown and umber. Dimensions from l'20x 1'75 to 1'SOx 1-80. 



II A HITS. 



Although the Florida Gallinules occur regularly in Massachusetts, and even breed in 

 some of our larger marshes, they are not common here. En Florida, however, the species 

 is remarkably abundant and deposit their eggs in May. The nests are placed on the drier 

 portions of tlic marshes, among thick reeds or rushes, and when the locality is approached, 

 the liirds quietly leave their domiciles and disappear in the sheltering vegetation. In gen- 

 eral habits, the Florida Gallinules somewhat resemble the Rails, spending much of their 

 time among the grass and aquatic plants which border rivers and other bodies of fresh wa- 

 ter. They will, however, occasionally emerge from these retreats and walk over the ex- 

 posed margins of the water, wade in the shallows, or make their way over the floating 

 vegetation. These birds also swim well, but when thus engaged, the head is jerked back- 

 ward with every motion of the legs, as if the birds were walking with the body partly sub- 

 merged. If disturbed when not in shelter, the Gallinules either dive into the water or rise, 

 and fly with dangling legs, to the nearest grass, into which they drop like Rails; but un- 

 like these birds, they can be started again quite easily. These Gallinules readily become 

 tame, and a specimen, brought to me from the Everglades, by the Seminole chief, Tiger, 

 and which he assured me, had been in captivity but a few days, was so unsuspicious that 

 il led from my nand. It had a long string fastened to its leg, and had become quite ac- 

 customed to this method of confinement, for it never attempted to escape; but I had only 

 kept it a few days, when it was unfortunately killed by a predatory opossum. 



GALLINT/LA MARTINICA. 



Purple Gallinule. 

 Gallinula martinica LATH., Ind. Orn., II; 1790, 769. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Upper part of body, brownfsh-green, darkest on back and 

 rump. Wings and tail, brown, edged on outer webs with green. Head and under part, bluish-purple, darkest on ab- 

 domen ami tibia, witli sides and under wing coverts, greenish. Under tail coverts, white. Bill, red, tipped with yellow. 

 Frontal plate, blue. Iris, brown. Legs, greenish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the purplish and green colors, and absence of lobatingson the toes. Distributed, in summer, in Flor- 

 ida. Accidental as far north as Massachusetts. Winters soutli of the United States. 



DI.MKXSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 12 50; stretch, 20'50; wing, 6'50; tail, 3-25; bill, M2; 

 tarsus 2-12. Longest specimen, 13'00; greatest extent of wing, 21'00; longest wing,7'00: tail, .'i'50; bill, I '25: tarsus, 2'25. 

 Shnrtest specimen, I2'<K); smallest extent of wing, sJO'OO; shortest wing, G'OO; tail, 3'00; bill, I 'DO; tarsus, 2-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND K' 



Nrsl.1, placed on tlic ground in marshy places, r,,m|>.>~r.l df grass, weeds, etc. K/ys, from --ix In ten in manlier, mtli- 

 cr elliptical in form, creamy 'in color, finely aud rather sparcrly dotted with brown und umher. Dimensions from ri5x l'7il 

 to I-20X 1-75. 



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