G A L L I N U L E. 263 



night, by the Pamunky Indians in King William's Country. " The 

 ff< manner of taking thefe birds is remarkable. The Sorus is not 

 sc known to be in Virginia, except for about fix weeks from the 

 " latter end of September : at that time they are found in the 

 " marines in prodigious numbers, feeding on the wild oats. At 

 " firfl: they are exceeding lean, but in a fhort time grow fo fat as 

 " to be unable to fly : in this ftate they lie upon the reeds, and 

 " the Indians go out in canoes, and knock them on the head 

 " with their paddles. They are rather bigger than a Lark, and 

 " are delicious eating. During the time of their continuing in 

 " feafon you meet with them at the tables of rnoft of the Planters, 

 " breakfajl, dinner, and/upper." 



La Poule-Sultane tachetee, Brif- Orn. v. p. 538. 8. ,__ 



La Grinette, Buf. Oif. viii. p. 179. - GRINETTA G* 



Poliopus, Gallinula minor AUrov. Raii S>'».-p. 1 14. 5. 



A fmall Water Hen, called Grinetta, Will. Orn. p. 315. pi. 58. 



Small Water Hen, Albin, ii.pl. 73. 



ESS than the Water Rail: length nine inches and three quar- Description.. 

 ters. Bill ten lines_ long ; colour of it and the irides yel- 

 lowifh green : forehead bare and yellow : the feathers of the 

 head and upper parts black, with rufous margins ; thofe of the 

 back have the margins likewife fringed with white : over the eye 

 a white ftreak : the throat blueifh afh-colour : fore part of the 

 neck and breafl: the fame, with an olive tinge, and fpotted with 

 black: belly and thighs pale rufous: fides tranfverfely barred 

 black and white : wing coverts rufous, marked with tranfverfe, 

 waved, or zigzag lines : quills dufky brown, edged outwardly with 

 white : tail the fame, but the two middle feathers white on both 



margins.,, 



