RALLUS 



SPOTTED 



PORZANA, 



GALLINULE. 



Generic Character. See Gallinula Chloropus. 

 Synonyms. 



Rallus Porzana, Lin, Syjl. i. p. 262. 3. Ind. 



Orn. 2. p, 772. 19. 

 Spotted Gallinule. Br. Z00L2. 215. 3.foL 130. 



ial>. L*, 1. Ar^. Zool. fupt. p. 69. 



Lalh. Syn. ^,p, 264. 18. Mont. Orn, 



BiSi. Vol, 1. Bewick's Br, Birds^ 



Ft. 2. p. 25. 



Th I S elegant bird is in length nine inches, in breadth 

 about fifteen, and its weight rather exceeds four ounces. Bill 

 three- fourths of an inch long ; irides light red ; legs delicately- 

 {lender ; colour alike in both faxes ; the female has not the 

 bare Ikin on the forehead of fo bright a colour as in the male. 



The Spotted Water Hen is one of the mofl: beautiful of 

 our water birds ; it frequents marfhes and fliallow ftreams of 

 water, where it breeds ; is met in greater abundance within 

 a few miles of London, than perhaps in any other parts of 

 this kingdom ; its neft is compofed of flicks, decayed grafs, 

 and rufhes, and is faid to be fattened to a living plant, by which 

 it is prevented from being carried away by the rifing of- the 

 water ; it lays fix or feven white eggs about the fize of a 



blackbird's. 



