384 ALECTORIDES. 



Char, Similar to Gallinula, Lut form more slender, nostrils small and oval, middle toe shorter 

 than the tarsus, and the toes without trace of lateral membrane. Colors very handsome (chiefly 

 opaque blue, purple, and green). 



Whether the American species, to which the generic name adopted above is properly applicable, 

 are congeneric with the Old World species (^Porphyrio Moronotas, Blith, nee Vieill.), which is 

 the type of the genus Porphjnda, Blyth, is at present uncertain. [Cf. D. G. Elliot: "The 

 Genus Porphyrio and its Species ;" separate pamphlet, from "Stray Feathers," pp. 1-20.] 



There are two American species of this genus, which differ in the following particulars : — 



I. martinica. Lower parts slaty purple in adult, light butf in young. Wing, 6.80-7.50 



inches ; ciilmen, 1.80-1.95 ; tarsus, 2.20-2.50 ; middle toe (without claw), 2.25-2.35. 



Hab. Warmer parts of North and South America ; West Indies. 

 I. parva.i Lower parts pure white at all ages. Wing, 5.00 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 



1.75 ; middle toe (ici</i claw), 2.50. llab. Northern South America (Cayenne and 



Amazons). 



lonornis martinica. 



THE PURPLE GALLINTTLE. 



Falica martinica, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 259. 



Gallinula martinica, LxcH. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 769. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 221. — AuD. Orn. 



Biog. IV. 1838, 37, pi. 305 ; Syno]i. 1839, 210 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 128, pi. 303. —Cass, in Bainl's 



B. N. Am. 1858, 753. — Baihd, Cat. N. Am, B. 1859, no. 561, 

 Pmyhyrio martinica, GossE, Birds Jam. 1847, 377. — CouES, Key, 1872, 275; Clicrk List, 1873, 



no. 473, 

 lononiis martinica, Reich, Av, Syst, 1853, 21, — KmiiW. Proc. U, S, Nat. Mus. Vul 3, 1881, 202, 



227 ; Norn. N. Am, B, 1881, no. 578. — CouEs, Check List, 2d ed, 1882, no, 685, 

 Falica martiniccnsis, Jacq, Beitr. 1784, 12, pi, iii. — Gmel, S, N, I. ii, 1788, 700, 

 Fidiai fiavirostris, Gmel, S, N. I. ii. 1788, 699. 

 Porphyrio tavona, Vieill. Gal. Ois. II. 1825, 170. 

 "Porphyrio cyanicollis, Vieill." 



Gallinula porphyrio, WiLs, Am. Oni. IX. 1824, 69, pi. 73. 

 Porphyrio americanus, SwAINS. Classif. B. II, 1837, 357, 

 Martiiiico Gallinvle, Lath, Synop, III, i. 1785, 25r>. \<\. 83. 



Hab, The whole of tropical and warm-temperate America, south to Brazil ; north, casually, 

 to Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri ; Bermudas, and 

 throughout West Indies, Not recorded from any part of the Western LTnited States. 



1 loXOKNIS PARVA (BoiUl.). 



La Favorite, de Cayenne, Buff. PI. Enl, 897. 



Fulicaparva, Bodd. Tabl. P, E, 1783 (ex PI, Enl. 897). —Gallinula pana, Schleg. — Por- 

 phyrio parvus, Sol, & Salv, P. Z, S, 1868, 460, fig, 

 Gallinula Jlaviroslris, Gmel. S. N. I, 1788, 699. — Glauccstcs flavirostris, Reichenb. 



