2 



abundant on the southern islands, occurs also on the northernmost. With regard to 

 it being a distinct species, Dr. Stejneger wrote to me quite recently : — " In regard to 

 Fulica alai I would say that the difference between it and the American species is 

 very much greater than between the Gallinules. I consider it an offspring of the 

 American, of course, but now quite specifically distinct." 



Peale describes the bird as follows : — 



" Closely allied to Fulica americana, but smaller, and having a more slender bill; 

 head and neck black; body dark cinereous, tinged with brown on the back: wings brown, 

 margined with white ; second primary longest, third nearly equal to the second, first 

 and sixth equal ; shafts brown : tail very short, brown, the lower coverts white : bill 

 reddish white ; the frontal knob pale blue : legs bluish green. 



"Total length, l^y^ inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, 7-^- 6 inches; bill to the 

 frontal knob 1^- inch, including the knob, 2-j^ inches; to the corner of the mouth, 

 1 x -y inch ; tarsi, 2 inches ; middle toe, including the nail, 3- x - - inches, nail, - x % inch ; 

 hind toe, ly^ inch ; nail, - 2 \ inch." 



