512 FLORIDA GALLINULE. 
could, referred every new bird he met with to the paltry crea- 
tions of Europe ! 
But to come to facts, and without longer indulging in 
theory, we shall merely state that the Florida gallinule dif- 
fers specifically from the common gallinule of Europe no 
less than the Java gallinule (Gallinula ardosiaca, Vieill.), 
although the differences are almost imperceptible, so as to 
justify those who have not hitherto distinguished between 
them, among whom we are to be included ourselves. The 
true Gallinula chloropus is spread over all Europe and the 
temperate parts of Asia, and is also met with throughout the 
continent of Africa from east to west and from north to south. 
We have examined specimens from Egypt, others from Sene- 
gambia and fromthe Cape of Good Hope. The size varies much, 
even in specimens from the same country, but the G. chloropus 
and ardostaca have always the toes shorter than our American 
analogue. In fact, even in the largest specimen examined by 
Lichtenstein, which was from Caffraria, and measured four- 
teen and a half inches, the middle toe without the nail was 
only twenty-six lines long; whilst in the Florida specimens 
of the ordinary size of fourteen inches, the same toe measures 
at least thirty-four lines. The tarsus, likewise, and the other 
toes, are proportionally longer, and this forms the best dis- 
criminating mark. Another might also be drawn from the 
frontal clypeus, but as this extends with age in the different 
species, it may be deceptive. In full-grown birds, however, 
it is proper to observe, that both the American and Javan 
species differ from the common kind in having it much wider 
and differently shaped: in the American it extends still 
farther back, and is cut somewhat square behind, whilst the 
Javan has it exactly rounded ; in the European it is much 
less extended, narrow, and comparatively acute. ‘In point 
of form, markings, proportions of the primaries, and every 
other particular we could think of, we have been unable to 
find any distinction, however trifling, between the three 
species. 
