254 



GALLINULE. 



6. Fulica porphyrio, Lin. Syfi. i. p. 258. 5. — Scop. Ann. i. N° 152. 



+■ PURPLE G. La Poule-Sulcane, Brif. Orn. v. p. 522. 1, pi. 42. fig. 1. — Buf. Oif. viii, 



p. 194. pi. 17. 

 La Taleve de Madagascar, PI. Enl. 810. 

 Porphyrio, Rati Syn. p. 1 16. 13. 14. — Will. Orn. p. 318. 

 _ Purple Water Hen, Edvj. pi. 87. — Albin, iii. pi. 11 ». 



.Sr. Ma/: iw, m«/: 



Description. C I Z E of a Fowl : length one foot five inches. Bill very flout 

 at the bafe, comprefTed on the fides, and above an inch and a 

 half in length ; colour a deep red : irides fulvous : the forehead 

 bare and red : the head and hind part of the neck are glofiy 

 violet : cheeks, throat, and fore part of the neck, violet blue : 

 back, rump, and fcapulars, dull green, but gloffy : quills the 

 fame, but brown within : the tail nearly the fame, and rounded 

 in fhape : legs very ftout, and the colour of the bill. 

 Female. The female is fmaller than the male. 



Place and This bird is more or lefs common in all the warmer parts of 



the globe. On the coafls of Barbary they abound, as well as in 

 fome of the illands of the Mediterranean. In Sicily they are bred 

 in plenty, and kept for their beauty ; but whether indigenous 

 there we are not certain. It is frequently met with in various 

 parts of the fouth of RuJ/ia, and weftern parts of Sifriria, among 

 reedy places ; and in the neighbourhood of the Cafpian Sea not 

 uncommon : but in the cultivated rice-grounds of Ghilar in 

 Perfia, in great plenty and in high plumage. The female makes 

 the neft among the reeds in the middle of March; lays three 

 or four eggs, and fits from three to four weeks. That it is com- 



* Toes placed falfely, two before and two behind 



mon 



Manners. 



