Purple Gallinules and Moho 



325 



son, and the legs and feet yellow. This is essentially a southern species and 

 is not common in the United States above the southern line of states. Like the 

 others of its kin, it frequents the dense vegetation of marshes, where it feeds on 

 mollusks, worms, and seeds. In Jamaica, where it is known as the "Sultana," 

 it is an abundant resident of the lowland ponds and marshy rivers, and is so bold 

 and fearless as to appear in the open and stroll about with little heed to the 

 passer-by. The nest according to Audubon is placed at a height of two to three 

 feet from the ground, in a dense cluster 

 of rushes fastened together by the birds. 

 The eggs, five to eight in number, are 

 similar to those of the Florida Gallinule, 

 but with a paler ground color. To 

 further show the varied and beautiful 

 plumage of these birds, we may briefly 

 describe the Green-backed Purple Gal- 

 linule (Porphyrio smaragdonotus) of 

 South Africa. This bird, to quote from 

 Sharpe, has the " head, hind part of the 

 neck, and wing-feathers glossy violet; 

 the back and rump, dull glossy green; 

 the cheeks, throat, and fore part of the 

 neck and under parts of the body, 

 violet-blue, while the tail is dull green, 

 and the vent-feathers pure white ; while 

 living, the frontal shield and bill are 

 blood-red, and the legs and feet dark 

 pink. They haunt the reedy borders of 

 ponds and valleys." 



Notornis. Before leaving this group there is a very curious New Zealand 

 bird that is worthy of notice. It is a large Gallinule-like bird, called by the 

 natives the Moho (Notornis mantelli\ and was first made known to science 

 from fossil or subfossil remains found in association with bones of the Moa. A 

 few years later (1849) a single extraordinary bird was captured alive by some 

 sailors near Resolution Island, and parts of it falling into scientific hands, it was 

 decided that it was referable to the fossil form, which had hitherto been sup- 

 posed to have met the fate of its erstwhile companions, the Moas. Since that 

 time only three additional examples have been captured, the second in 1851, the 

 third in 1879, and the last in July, 1898, showing that although exceedingly 

 rare it has still managed to escape extinction. The first three examples having 

 been preserved by unskilful hands were not in very good condition for study, but 

 from an examination of the best of these, which is now preserved in the Dresden 

 Museum, it was determined that although very close to the fossil form it should be 

 regarded as distinct, and it was given the name of Notornis hochstetteri. This 

 view is entirely confirmed by the last specimen, which was fortunately received en- 

 tire at the New Zealand Museum, and in condition that permitted a fairly complete 



FIG. 106. Moho, Notornis mantelli. 



