424 GALLINULE. 



I received this bird from Jamaica, and have also seen a specimen 

 from Cayenne. These are clearly Varieties of each other, and both 

 probably related to the Jamaica Rail. 



** WITH BILLS VERY STRONG, AND THICK. 



35. -VIOLET GALLINULE. 



Porpbyrio alter, Aldrov. iii. 438. t. 440. Ind. Orn. ii. 7G8. G. /3. Fn. arag. p. 78. 



Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Tern. Man. Ed. \\. G98 ? 



Purple Water Hen, Edw. pi. 87 ? 



Purple Gallinule, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 326. A. 



THE size not mentioned. Colour of the plumage, for the most 

 part, violet black; fore part of the neck blue; vent white; forehead 

 and legs red. — This was sent from Tyrol, and, according to M. Aso, 

 is either a remarkable Variety, or new Species. 



M. Temminck's bird, quoted above, and appearing to be the same, 

 is eighteen inches in length ; the cheeks, throat, neck before, and 

 sides of it turquoise blue; hindhead, nape, thighs, and belly bright 

 indigo blue; the breast, back, wing coverts, quills, and tail glossy 

 indigo ; the under tail coverts white ; bare part of the forehead, bill, 

 and irides red; legs reddish flesh-colour. 



This bird inhabits the marshy parts, on the borders of rivers and 

 lakes, in Sicily, Calabria, the Ionian Isles, throughout the whole 

 Archipelago, and the Levant ; also Balmatia, and the southern 

 provinces of Hungary; rarely seen in Sardinia: breeds in the marshes, 

 making the nest of sticks and plants, laying three or four white eggs, 

 nearly of a round shape. 



