i68 Mr. Gordon Dalgliesh,


been young birds. Blanford, writing in the fourth volume of

birds in "The Fauna of British India Series" makes no mention

of this small water hen, but says, (writing of G. chloropus)

" Indian birds are smaller than European." I have however

seen some European birds quite as small as the typical Indian

form of G. chloropus, and again Indian specimens as large as

European. Blanford gives the measurements of G. chloropzis

as i2'5' in length. Birds I have measured from England average

from 12 to 13 inches. Blanford ignores altogether one very im-

portant point, namely, the differentiation in sexes. Saunders

states that the female bird is larger and more brightly coloured

than the male, but surely this cannot be the case. I have taken

special pains to investigate this matter and found that the larger

and more brightly coloured bird with the very conspicuous

orange garter was the male, the more sober coloured bird the

female. Dresser says — "Sexes alike." Of course the bright

colour may be a sign of age, but personally I do not think so, as

I have never found a bright coloured female, and I have dissected

a good many.


Jerdon thus describes Gallinula bumesii : — "Similar to G.

chloropus or intermediate to it and Porzana {Amauromis) akool ;

the head and neck are like those of the Common Water-hen, but

the frontal plate is smaller or wanting ; the outer web of the first

primary is white, and the outermost feather of the winglet is

also bordered with white ; the wing coverts are dark slaty ash ;

and the under tail coverts are white. It is smaller than G.

chloropus ; Tarsus 2^ ; mid-toe 2f ; claws also shorter ; irides

bright pale crimson ; legs and feet as in G. chloropus, but the

orange garter less developed. This species was first discrimin-

ated by Mr. Blyth from a drawing and some fragments of a

specimen sent by Sir A. Burnes, from the Munchur lake in Sindh.

It appears to me rather a doubtful species but I shall retain it in

the hope of other specimens turning up." {Birds of India iii.

p. 719).


Gallimda bumesii is I think a good sub-species. The key

to the two will be as follows : —


Frontal shield in adults large. Length 12 to 13'. G. chloropus.

Frontal shield small or wa?itinz. Length 11*. G. c. bumesii.



