GALLINULE. GRALLATORES. GALLINULA. 189 
Gallinula fusca, Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 771. sp. 15. 
Fulica fusca, Linn. Syst. 1. 257. 1.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 697. 
Gallinula minor, Briss. Ornith. 6. 6. f. 2. 
Gallinula alia, Aldrov.— Will. 234.—Id. (Angl.) 314. and 319. ¢ Yours: 
La Poulette d’Eau, Buff: Ois. 8. 177. 
Brown Gallinule, Lath. Syn. 5. 260. 14. 
Gallinula flavipes et fistulans, Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 773. sp. 21. et 22.— 
Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 702. 
Yellow-legged, and Piping Gallinule, Lath. Syn. 5. 266. and 267. sp. 20. et 
21. These are taken from GEsNER, who appears to have described them 
from imperfect drawings. 
Provincrat.—Moor-Hen, Marsh-Hen, Stank-Hen, Cuddy, Water-Hen, 
Moor-Coot. 
Tuts well known bird is indigenous, and very generally 
dispersed throughout the kingdom, inhabiting old water 
courses, and ponds covered with aquatic herbage, as well as 
brooks and rivers, particularly such as flow with a deep and 
slow current, and are bordered by sedges, willow bushes, &c. 
It is also dispersed throughout the European continent, 
where it is permanently stationary in the warmer and tem- 
perate districts, but migratory as it approaches nearer to the 
north. The species is also found in parts of Asia and Africa. 
The habits of the Gallinule are decidedly aquatic, as it swims 
from choice, and is indeed more frequently seen in the wa- 
tery element than upon land; it also dives with ease, not 
only to avoid impending danger, but as it would appear for 
the purpose of obtaining food ; as I have several times 
known it to have been taken by a line baited with an earth- 
worm for catching eels or trout. It is thus in all probability 
that the Gallinule obtains the larger coleopterous water in- 
sects, aquatic worms, and the larve of dragon-flies, &c. 
When suddenly surprised in a situation at all exposed, it 
usually takes wing, skimming along the surface of the water, 
but only for a short distance, to the first bush or cover that 
offers, where it conceals itself so effectually, either by sub- 
merging its body, and keeping only the bill above water, or 
in some hole or shelving retreat in the bank, as generally to 
defeat any attempts at raising it a second time, even with 
the assistance of a dog. Its flight is heavy, and when for a 
