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THE COMMON GALLINULE. 



Gallinula Chloropus, Lath. 



PLATE CCXLIV. Male. 



The two species of Gallinule which occur in the United States are 

 confined within a comparatively small range in that extensive country, 

 the southern portions of which appear to suit them better, at all seasons 

 of the year, than the other districts. The Common Gallinule is extremely 

 abundant during winter along the rivers, fresh-water creeks, lagoons, 

 ponds and lakes, between the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern shores of 

 the Floridas, while in spring and summer a good number migrate east- 

 ward into the Carolinas, and now and then a few stragglers may be seen 

 on the fresh waters of the Middle Districts, beyond which none, to my 

 knowledge, have ever been observed. They seldom ascend any of our 

 southern streams to any considerable distance, few are ever met with many 

 miles above Natchez on the Mississippi, and none are to be seen in the 

 Western Country. 



In general they are equally diurnal and nocturnal in their habits, and 

 when undisturbed frequent the land as much as the water. In the lower 

 parts of Louisiana and the Floridas, I have seen them seek their food and 

 amuse themselves by day in the pastures and fields, and I have observed 

 both them and the Gallinules of England enacting their courtship, while 

 the sun was yet high above the horizon. In sight of man, however, they 

 are timorous although not shy, and retreat from him among the grass and 

 sedges bordering the water, to which they resort for safety. If shot at, 

 or otherwise frightened, they run with speed, and either fly or swim oif 

 as fast as possible, to elude their enemy. 



During my various temporary residences in London, I have often seen 

 the Gallinules resort to the grounds in the Regent's Park at all hours of 

 the day. They were there in a manner partially domesticated, and walked 

 quite unconcernedly in the meadows, led their young over the water, and 

 paid their addresses to each other, while fifty or more' persons were amu- 

 sing themselves vrith feeding the ducks and swans over the bridge leading 

 to the inner circle, and within sight of these birds. While I was at 

 Spring- Garden Spring in East Florida, in the early part of January, the 



