PURPLE WATEBEEK 45 



The Purple Waterhen, the Porpliyrion of the ancients, was celebrated 

 by the Greeks and Romans, and deemed by them worthy of a place 

 among their heathen gods. The genus established by Brisson, and of 

 which the subject of the present notice is the only European repre- 

 sentative, is remarkable for beauty of colour, for the extraordinary 

 length of its toes, and for the expansion on the forehead of the base 

 of the upper mandible in the form of a shield. 



The Purple Waterhen or Gallinule is found on the borders of 

 large rivers, lakes, and marshes in the south of Europe, and is very 

 abundant in rice plantations where that cereal is grown. It occurs 

 abundantly on the shores of large lakes and inundated grounds in 

 Sicily and the Ionian Islands. It is also found in small numbers in 

 Hungary, and more rarely in Sardinia. It has been observed in 

 France, in Provence and the Dauphine. It is included by Savi 

 among the birds of Italy, and by Dr. Lindermayer among those of 

 Greece. It is not mentioned in the "Faune Beige," nor in the 

 ^' Birds of Belgium," by Dubois, nor in the "Vogel Deutschlands" of 

 Naumann. A specimen is recorded by Mr. Hancock ("Catalogue of 

 Birds of Northumberland and Durham,") to have been taken alive at 

 Bottom Flats in August, 1863. Another individual was caught near 

 Penteland, August, 1873, which is still living in confinement in 

 Newcastle. These birds had probably escaped from some ornamental 

 water. 



Count Miihle says he never saw this bird in Greece, although 

 Bonaparte, Temminck, and others, quote that country as one of its 

 habitats. Upon this Dr. Lindermayer ("Vogel Griechenlands," p. 131,) 

 says, — "This bird has not been killed either by Count Miihle or 

 myself, yet I have seen many of them in the bird-markets of this 

 country. Erhardt says in his remarks upon it, that its appearance in 

 Greece is very limited, and that it is only known with certainty that 

 it comes to the lake of Dystos, on the Island of Euboa, and the lake 

 of Kopai. I have at all times had similar accounts from sportsmen, 

 but I have never yet seen one wild." With these remarks he leaves 

 the question still open for further enquiry. 



Salvadori, (Fauna d'ltalia,) says: — "This bird is common in Sicily 

 and Sardinia. It appears accidentally in Tuscany, in Liguria and Nice. 



According to Benoit, whom Salvadori quotes, the Purple Waterhens 

 hide themselves under the thick reeds coming out only when pressed by 

 hunger. -They live upon roots, aquatic plants, and seeds. In confine- 

 ment they eat anything. Their voice is strong and sonorous, and much 

 resembles the clarionet when being tuned. They seem to love the sight 

 and neighbourhood of water. When persecuted and constrained to 



