428 GALLINULE. 



Inhabits New South Wales, found in the swamps in August, but 

 is rare ; called by the natives Goola-warrin, or Girra-wang. I 

 observe a similar bird among the drawings of Lord Mountnorris, 

 done in India. 



40—WHITE GALLINULE. 



Gallinula alba, lnd. On. ii. 768. 



Fulica alba, White Fulica, White's Joum. p. 135. pi. p. 238. 



White Gallinule, Phil. Bot. Bay, pi. p. 273. Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 327. 



SIZE of a Hen ; length two feet. Shape and colour of the bill 

 as in the Purple Species, with also the crown red, and bare; irides 

 red ; round the eye scarcely covered with feathers, so that the skin is 

 visible, appearing somewhat rough ; the whole of the plumage pure 

 white; the legs red, claws brown ; on the bend of the wing a sharp 

 spur. Some of these birds, supposed to differ in sex, are of a bright 

 blue between the shoulders, and spotted on the back with the same. 



These inhabit Norfolk Island, are very common, and so extremely 

 tame, as to be easily knocked down with a stick ; they feed on various 

 things, and have more than once been observed to eat the ejected 

 food of the Booby Pelican. It is to be suspected, that this is no other 

 than a casual Variety of the Purple Gallinule, particularly as that 

 bird is in sufficient plenty in Tongo taboo, Tanna, and other Islands 

 of the Pacific Ocean ; independent of Java, Madagascar, various 

 parts of the East Indies, and China : it is probably the same met 

 with in Lord Howe's Island, said to resemble a Guinea Hen in make, 

 and to weigh four pounds, and that the cock's wings were beautifully 

 mottled with blue; none of them could fly, but were run down by 

 the seamen.* 



* See Account of Botany Bay, by J. Callam, 1783. 



