92 VISCOUNT WALDEN ON THE BIEDS OF CELEBES. 



J. A. S. B. I; Cat. Mus. Calc. no. 1573) ; rare in India, J. A. S. B. 1845, p. 459 {Blyth) ; 

 Java, Borneo, Amboyna, Ternate, Sumbawa, Timor, Lobo (New Guinea) (Mus. Lugd.) ; 

 Australia (Gould). 



EALLIDtE. 



Poephtkio, Brisson. 



146. Porphykio indicus, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 194, "Java" (1822, read 18th 



of April 1820) ; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Balli, p. 55 ; Finsch & Hartl. Faun. 

 Centralpolyn. Aves, p. 170, pi. xii. f. 2. 

 Porphyria smaragdinus, Temm. PI. Col. 421, " Java" (February 1827). 



Hab. Macassar, Menado (mus. nostr.) ; Tondano, 21st of April (Forsten) ; Gorontalo, 

 18th of April, 24th of May, 26th of June; Ayer-pannas, 11th of August (Von 

 Rosenberg); Java (type); Ceram, Bouru (Mus. Lugd.) ; Banda (G. B. Gray); Sumatra 

 (Cassin) ; Samoa Islands (Peale). 



The absolute identity of the race of purple Coots inhabiting the islands above cited 

 has yet to be established. To the Ceram race Temminck applied the title of mela- 

 nopterus ; that of Samoa has received the designation of samoensis, Peale. It is true 

 that the late Mr. Cassin could detect no difference between the Samoan and the Javan 

 Porphyrio ; and Messrs. Finsch & Hartlaub (I. c.) agree in uniting them. On the 

 other hand, Professor Schlegel has observed slight distinctions between the individuals 

 inhabiting Java, Celebes, and Ceram. I have not been able to compare a sufficient 

 series in full plumage to form a decided opinion. But Celebean birds appear to have 

 the throat, upper breast, and shoulder-coverts of a much richer and deeper blue than 

 what I have found in Javan examples. I am unable to discover sufficient evidence to 

 justify Latham's title of poliocephalus (Suppl. Ind. Orn. p. 58) being applied to the 

 Philippine Porphyrio, rather than to the one of Continental India (P. neglectus, 

 Schlegel). Latham's Grey-headed Gallinule (Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 375) was described by 

 him from a drawing by General Davies, of an individual in Exeter Change. The 

 description agrees well enough with the Indian bird, and better than with the 

 Philippine. It is certainly not sufficiently minute to enable us to refer it without 

 doubt to the latter species, P. pulverulentus, Temm. (PL Col. 405, erroneously given 

 from Africa) ; while the probabilities are in favour of the type having come to London 

 from India, and not from the Philippines. 



Htdkalectoe, Wagler. 



147. Htdealectoe gallinaceus (Temm.): PI. Col. 464, " Moluques " (5th of July 1828) ; 



Gould, Birds Austr. vi. pi. 75. 

 Parra cristata, Vieill., Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. 68. 



Hob. Menado, Macassar (mus. nostr.); Ayer-pannas, adult male, 21st of August, 



