BIEDS — SCOLOPACIDAE — GALLINULA MAETINICA. 



753 



Abundant in the soutliern States, and occasionally occurring on tlie coasts of New Jersey and 

 New York. This species much resembles the Gallinule of Europe, {G. chlorqpus,) and other 

 species of the Old "World, which appear to be mainly distinguishable from each other by the 

 shape and size of the frontal plates which characterize all the species of this genus. This is said 

 to be quadrate in our bird instead of acute. The toes also are longer. 



Porphyrula, Blyth. 

 GALLINULA MAKTINICA, (Linn.) Lath. 



Fnrple Gallinnle. 



Fuliea martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766, 259. 



Gallinula martinica, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 769.— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 231.— Ndtt. Man. II, 221. — 

 Ann. Orn. Bio?. IV, 1838, 37 ;. pi. 305.— Ib. Syn. 210.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 128 ; 

 pi. 303. 

 Crex martinica. Light. Verz. 1823, 79. 



Porphyria martinica, Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 377. — Cab. Jour. 1856, 429. 

 Fulica martinicensis, Jacotin, Beit. 1784, 12 ; pi. iii. — Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 700. 

 lonornismartinicensis, Reich. Sjst. Av. 1853, p. xxi. 

 Fulica flavirostris, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 699. 

 Porphyria tavoua, Vieiil. Gal. II, 1825, 170. 

 Porphyria cyanicallis, Vieill. 



Gallinula porphyria, Wils. Am. Orn. IX, 1824, 69 ; pi. ixxiii. 

 Porphyria americanus, Sw. Class. Birds, II, 1837, 357. 

 Martinica gallinule, Iji-m, Syn. Ill, i, 255; pi. Ixxxiii. 

 Sp. Ch. — Frontal plate large, obovate ; bill about as long as the head, thick, compressed ; wings long ; ta.il short ; legs long, 

 robust ; toes and claws long. Head and entire under parts fine bluish purple, darker and sometimes nearly black on the abdo- 

 men and tibiae ; lower tail coverts white ; sides and under wing coverts bluish green. Upper parts of body dark olive green, 

 tinged with brown on the back and rump ; quills and tail feathers brownish black, edged with green on the outer webs of the 

 feathers ; bill bright red, tipped with yellow ; frontal plate blue ; legs yfellow. 

 Total length, about 12j- inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 3 ; bill, 1| ; tarsus, 2^ inches. 



Hab. — Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida. Accidental in the middle and northern United States. 

 Western ? 



This very handsome bird is of frequent occurrence on the coasts of the southern States of this 

 republic and in South America. It is occasionally met with as far north as New Jersey, and 

 more rarely in New York and Massachusetts. We have never seen a specimen from the coasts 

 of the Pacific. 



August IS, 1858. 



9gb 



