8 THE GENUS PORPHYRIO AND ITS SPECIES. 



eventually be ascertained to have been bestowed upon a bird 

 generically distinct from those named above, then lonornis 

 proposed by Reichenbach (Nat. Syst., p. XXL, 1853), will 

 probably be the one necessary to adopt for them. 



The genus Porphyria was instituted by Brisson in his Ornitholo- 

 gie, with the P. cliloro7iotus i Vieill., as the type. It has received 

 but one synonym, Ccesarornis, Reich. The terms lonornis 

 and Glaucestes, Reich, Hydrionia, Hartl., and Porphyrula, Blyth, 

 which have been given sometimes as synonyms, belong to 

 species with quite different generic characters from those pos- 

 sessed by the members of Porpliyrio. 



I am able to recognise nine species, of which number, the P. 

 coelestis, Swinhoe, from Amoy, China, is doubtful, as it is probably 

 the same as P. calvus, Vieill., from one of the islands in the 

 Eastern Archipelago. As the specimen described was living at 

 the time' in captivity, and as it is not known, so far as I am 

 aware, what became of it, the determination of the species from 

 the type will be a rather difficult matter. 



The birds included in this Paper are of large size, with an 

 attractive plumage, composed mainly of blue and green colours, 

 with bright red bills, legs and feet, and also a large shield 

 covering nearly all the top of the head, of the same brilliant 

 hue. 



I commence with a brief review of the 



Literature op the Genus. 



1766. — Linnoeus Systema Naturce. 



In his genus Fulica, Linnseus includes one 

 species of Porphyrio, F. porphyrio, 

 (= P. chloronotus, Vieill.) — Species, 1. 



1774. — Gmelin — Beiss-Russl. 



Porphyrio veterum first described ... Species, 2. 



1801. — Latham — Index Ornithologicus, Supplement. 

 The Grey-headed Gallinule of the synopsis 

 is here named Gallinula poliocephala, 

 and another, most probably an imma- 

 ture individual of the same species, 

 Gallinula madagascariensis. This last 

 is however a doubtful determination, 

 as Latham's description really an- 

 swers for no species at present known. Species, 3. 



1810. — Vieillot — Nouveau Dictionnaire oV Ilistoire JSaturelle. 

 In the 28th volume of this publication, the 

 author gives a list of species, which 

 he considers belong to the genus Por- 

 phyrio. As ; however, some belong to 



