BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 249 
Length, about 123; wing, 63; tail, 3. 
Hab.—Southern countries of North America; Louisiana, Florida, 
Texas; South America. Accidental in Middle and Northern States. 
(Baird.) : 
Resident, tolerably abundant, breeding in the flags and sedges in the 
deepest and most inaccessible parts of the marshes. Also migratory, 
visitors appearing in October. Like the “Sora,” this is a sad pest to 
the snipe-shooter when working the thick places, unless his dog be as 
steady as old Time. 
With regard to the specific distinction between this bird and G. chlo- 
ropus of Europe, it would appear that there is so little difference that 
“doctors disagree” on the question. I never compared specimens my- 
self, but Mr. Hurdis says, in his MS. notes: “On a careful comparison of 
British specimens with those shot in the Bermudas the resemblance of . 
the two was so strongly marked that, in my humble opinion, they are 
identical.” 
Genus PORPHYRULA, Blyth. 
136. Porphyrula martinica, (Linn.) Blyth. Purple Gallinule. 
Fulica martinica, Linn. 
Gallinula martinica, Lath., Bp., Nutt., Aud. 
Crex martinica, Licht. 
Porphyrio martinica, Gosse, Cab. 
Fulica martinicensis, Jacq., Gm. 
Tonornis martinicensis, Reich. 
Fulica flavirostris, Gm. 
Porphyrio tavona, Vieil. 
Porphyrio cyanicollis, Vieil. 
Gallinula porphyrio, Wils. 
Porphyrio americanus, Sw. 
Martinico gallinule, Lath. 
Length, 125; wing, 7; tail, 3. 
Hab.—Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida. Acci- 
dental in Middle and Northern United States. (Baird). 
Several were obtained in 1849 and 1850, in the month of April, and one 
on the 30th May, 1851. Mr. Hurdis’s notes contain the following: “On 
the 22d October, 1851, I shot one of these Gallinules in the olive-green 
plumage of the young, and as these birds never remain to breed in the 
Bermudas, this specimen must have found its way over sea. I know of 
no other instance of the young being met with. In April, 1852, this 
Gallinule was.again observed, and in June, 1853, I examined a speci- 
men preserved by W. Clutterbuck, esq., Fifty-sixth Regiment; date of 
its occurrence unknown. Its appearance, with one exception, has been 
vernal.” 
