GALLINULE. 



255 



mon in China the paper-hangings from thence will every where 

 teftify. Is aifo met with in the Eaji Indies, the iflands of Java, 

 Madagajcar, and many others. Our late navigators faw them at 

 Tongataloo in vaft numbers, as well as in the ifland ofTanna *, 

 and other parts. It is alfo common in the fouthern parts or 

 America. 



In refpect to its manners, it is a very docile bird, being eafily 

 tamed f , and feeding with the poultry, fcratching the ground 

 with the foot as the Cock and Hen. It will feed on many things, 

 fuch as fruit, roots of plants, and grain; but will eat fijh with 

 avidity, dipping them into the water before it fwallows them : 

 will frequently Hand on one leg, and lift the food to its mouth 

 with the other, like a Parrot. A pair of thefe, kept in an aviary 

 in France, made a neft of fmall fticks, mixed with a quantity 

 of ftraw, and laid fix white eggs, perfectly round ; but the hen 

 was carelefs of them, and they came to nothing. The flefh is 

 faid to be exquifite in tafte J. 



Fulica Martinica, Lin. Syjl. i. p. 259. 7. 



La petite Poule-Sultane, Brif. Orn. v. p. 526. 2. pi. 42. fig. 2. — Buf. 

 Oif. viii. p. zo6. 



Lev. Muf. 



T ESS than the common Gallinule, and the body more flender : 



length about twelve inches. Bill thirteen lines long, yellow, 



with a red bafe : forehead bald and blue : irides red : the plu- 



7- 



-f- MARTINICO 



G. 



p L . Lxxxvur. 



Description. 



* Forjl. Voy. i. 448. ii. 358. — Cook's laft Voy. i. 226. 334. 

 t In Dec. Ruff. ii. p. 240. this is denied ; obferving, that it will fooner lofc 

 its life than its liberty. \ Id. 



mage 



