92 



This is the most expert of the Rails in skulking and hiding. As it is 

 almost impossible to flush it, it may be far more common than we 

 suspect. According to actual records, it is one of the rarest birds 

 in Canada. Its habits do not seem to differ much from those of the other 

 Rails, except that it does not require as much water in its habitat, and is 

 more often found on the shoreward, grassy sides of marshes rather than in 

 wet, reedy locations. 



Subfamily — Gallinulinae. Gallinules or Mud-hens. 



General Description. Rather large duck-like birds, but with long toes without webs 

 either partial or entire; conical bill extended on the forehead in a plate or frontal shield 

 (Figure 26, p. 22). 



Distinctions. Distinguished from the Ducks by lack of webs, and by shape of bill; 

 and from the Coot by absence of toe lobes; otherwise quite closely resembles Coots. 



Field Marks. Round, duck-like shape of body; habit when swimming; general blue 

 or blue-grey coloration; red bill, and frontal shield; and long legs and toes of yellow or 

 green. 



Quietly watching the open leads through the marsh, one sometimes 

 sees a swimming bird of duck-like outline sitting high in the water with 

 upturned tail and progressing with a series of graceful backward and for- 

 ward jerkings of the head. This alone is nearly enough for recognition 

 of the Gallinules; but the brilliantly coloured bill and frontal plate, visible 

 at considerable distances in the bright sunshine, will make recognition 

 certain. Sometimes individuals are jumped in the narrow, winding channels 

 of the marshes, when off they go spattering along the surface and making 

 a great amount of disturbance until wing borne. The Gallinules swim 

 habitually and with ease, but rarely venture out in open water like the 

 Coots, confining themselves to the small pools in the marsh or to the clear 

 leads or passages that thread them. 



Genus—Ionornis. Purple Gallinule. 



218. Purple Gallinule. fh. — la gallinule de la Martinique. Ionornis 

 martinicus. L, 13. Resembles the Florida Gallinule, but neck and underparts iridescent 

 with pronounced purplish blue; frontal plate (Figure 26, p. 22) plumbous blue instead 

 of red; and legs yellow instead of green. Juveniles are similar but reduced in tones and 

 with only traces of iridescence. 



Distinctions. Can be mistaken only for the Florida Gallinule, but above characters 

 and absence of conspicuous white streaks on flanks are differences. 



Field Marks. Gallinule or Mud-hen-like outline, decided blue iridescence, yellow 

 legs, and all-white undertail-coverts. 



Distribution. Tropical and subtropical America regularly north to the Carolinas. 



Of only accidental occurrence in Canada. To be looked for only in 

 the most southern sections. 



Genus — Gallinula. Florida Gallinule. 



219. Florida Gallinule. rice-bird, mud-hen. red-billed mud-hen. fr. — 

 la gallinule de la floride. Gallinula galeata. L, 13-50. An almost evenly coloured, 

 slate-blue bird; darker on head and a little lighter below, tinged with slightly iridescent 

 reddish brown; conspicuous white flank streaks and a small edging of same under tail; bill 

 and frontal plate (Figure 26, p. 22) bright red; legs green with red garters just below the 

 feathering. 



