299 



POKPHYKIO VETERUM. 



(PURPLE GALLINULE.) 



Porphyrio ccesius pedibus et rostro sanguineis, Barrere, Orn. Spec. Nov. p. 61 (1745). 



The Purple Water-Hen, Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, ii. p. 87, pi. 87 (1747). 



Porphyrio veterum, S. G. Gmelin, Reise Russl. iii. p. 79, footnote, pi. 12 (1774). 



Fulica ccerulea, Vandelli, Flor. et Faun. Lusit. spec, in Mem. Acad, real Lisb. 1780, p. 37. 



La Poule Sultane ou le Porphyrion, Buffon, Hist. Nat. Ois. viii. p. 194, pi. 17 (1781). 



Fulica porphyrio, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 699 (1788, partim). 



Fulica porphyrio, Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. 156 (1811). 



Gallinula porphyrio, var. /3, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 768 (1790). 



Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 698 (1820). 



Porphyrio antiquorum, Bp. Comp. List. p. 54 (1838). 



Porphyrio ccesius, Schleg. Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. 52 (1865, ex Barr.). 



Taleve-porphyrion, French ; Camao, Portuguese ; Mancon azul, Calamon, Spanish ; Polio 

 sultano, Italian; Kazir, Moorish. 



Figuroe notabiles. 



Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, pi. 87; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 340; Roux, Orn. Prov. pi. 383; 

 Bree, B. of Eur. iv. pi. to p. 77. 



Ad. pileo, collo postico, alis et corpore supra saturate ultramarino-cseruleis : remigibus in pogonio interne- et 

 rectricibus nigris vix cseruleo tinctis : capitis lateribus, niento, collo postico et laterali pulchre turcino- 

 cyaneis : corpore reliquo subtus saturate nigro-cseruleo, subcaudalibus niveis : rostro et scutella frontali 

 puniceo-rubris, iride rubra, : pedibus incarnato-rubris. 



Juv. pileo saturate fuliginoso-cyaneo : collo postico schistaceo-cinereo vix cseruleo tincto : corpore supra sor- 

 didius quam in adulto colorato, uropygio nigro-schistaceo : capitis lateribus sordide cinereo vix cseruleo 

 tincto : mento et gula albo-cinereis : corpore subtus reliquo sordide cseruleo-schistaceo, plumis conspicue 

 cinereo apicatis, abdomine centrali albidiore, subcaudalibus niveis. 



Adult Male (Andalucia, Spain) . Crown, hind neck, and entire upper parts deep rich blue : quills on the 

 inner web and the tail-feathers black with a slight bluish tinge ; sides of the head, chin, throat, and 

 upper breast rich turquoise-blue, the remainder of the underparts blackish blue, except the under tail- 

 coverts, which are pure white: frontal plate and bill bright sealing-wax red; iris lake-red; legs flesh- 

 red. Total length about 18 inches, gape l - 7, wing 9"5, tail 4 - l, tarsus 3 - 5, middle toe with claw 4*8, 

 claw TO. 



Adult Female. Resembles the male. 



Young (near Seville, 24th June). Crown sooty blackish blue, hind neck dark slaty grey with a bluish tinge; 

 upper parts of a duller blue than the adult, the rump slaty blackish ; sides of the head dull ashy grey 



