THE PURPLE GALLIXULS. 



341 



THE PURPLE GALLINULE. 



very splendid, but ioooagruous species of Gallinuie, is ia tJ 

 United States, a 

 bird of passage, 

 wintering in tropi- 

 cal America, and 

 passing the sum- 

 mer, or breeding 

 season in the 

 marshes of Florida 

 and the contiguous 

 parts of the State 

 of Georgia, where 

 it arrives in the 

 latter part of 

 April, retiring 

 south with its 

 brood, in the 

 course of the 

 autumn, and 

 probably winters, 

 according to its 

 habits, in the 

 swampy maritime 

 districts along the 

 ooast of the Mexican Gulf. 



^ The Martinico Gallinule, while in the Southern States, frequents th 

 rice-fields, rivulets, and fresh water pools, in company with the more 

 common Florida species. It is a vigorous and active bird, bites hard 

 when irritated, runs with agility, and has the faculty, like the Sul- 

 tanas, of holding on objects very firmly with its toes, which are very- 

 long, and spread to a great extent. When walking, it jerks its tad 

 Eke the common Gallinule. In its native marshes it is very shy and 

 vigilant, and continually eluding pursuit, oan only be flushed with ta 

 aid of a dog 



OF THE fLAMINGO TRIBE. 



THE Flamingoes combine the characters of the two Linnaean orders, 

 the Waders and the Swimmers. They have long necks and legs. 

 Their bill is thick, large, and bending in the middle. The higher part 

 of the upper mandible is keel-shaped : the lower compressed. The 

 edges of the upper mandible are sharply indented ; those of the 

 lower transversely furrowed. The nostrils are covered above with a 

 thin plate, and are pervious. The tongue is cartilaginous, and pointed 

 at the end ; the middle part is muscular, and the upper part acouleatod 



