406 GALLINULE. 



trace it through Germany, France, Italy,* and Spain, also Gib- 

 raltar, and the opposite shore of Barbary ; but how much farther 

 in Africa is uncertain. We have, however, seen it frequently in 

 drawings done in India, where it is called Dawke, or Dahuc. 



Inhabits America, from New York to Carolina ; is mentioned as 

 a native of Jamaica, and other Islands in the West Indies, where it 

 is said to feed on plants and small fish, which it also does in this 

 kingdom, as well as on water insects ; will often feed on the remains 

 of corn, left in the stubble after harvest; and though its flesh in 

 general is not greatly sought after, it will be found, when in good 

 condition, to be very palatable. 



I observed a specimen of this among others in the collection of 

 Lord Seaforth, brought from South America; but in no place more 

 frequent than in the Island of Tristan da Cunha, having spread over 

 the whole Island ; some conceal themselves in the woods, and 

 are occasionally run down by dogs; others fly about the cantonment ; 

 and are so tame as to suffer themselves to be caught with a hand- 

 net, &c.f Is found also in Java, but the specimens are smaller, and 

 have a much wider, and differently shaped frontal clypeus :£ the 

 bird is called there Pro, or Opel-opellan. 



8— BROWN GALLINULE. 



Gallinula fusca, Ind. Orn. ii. 771. Tern. Man. Ed. ii. 695. Friseh, 210. 



minor, Bris. vi. p. 6. Id. 8vo. ii. 359. Gerin. v. t. 487. 



alia Aldr. Will. 234. 



Fulica fusca, Lin. i. 257. Gtn. Lin. i. 697. Fn. arag. p. 78. Fn. Helv. 



' albiventris, Scop. i. No. 150. 



Rallus Italorum Aldr. Rail, 116. 15. Will. 238. 



Das braune Meerhuhn, Bechst. Dents, iii. 245. 



Wasser Huhn, Gunth. Nest. u. Ey. t. 20. Naturf. xviii. p. 70. 



La Poulette d'Eau, Buf. viii. 177. 



* The Moor Hen of Ionia is much commended, and highly esteemed. — Plin. Nat. Hist. x. 

 cb. 48. f i»- trans, xii. 496. % Dr. Horsfield. 



