70 



PURPLE GALLINULE 



tions ; its long feet, and the plate from the top of its head to the 

 root of its bill, are of a fine red ; and a tuft of white feathers un- 

 der the tail heightens the lustre of its charming garb. Except 

 that it is rather smaller, the female differs not from the male, 

 which exceeds the partridge, but is inferior to a domestic hen. 

 The Marquis de Nesle brought a pair from Sicily, where they are 

 known under the name of Gallofagiani ; they are found on the 

 lake Lentini, above Catana, and are sold for a moderate price in 

 that city, as well as in Syracuse and the adjacent towns. They 

 appear alive in the public places, and plant themselves beside the 

 sellers of vegetables and fruits to pick up the refuse : and this 

 beautiful bird, which the Romans lodged in their temples, now 

 experiences the decline of Italy." 



The length of the Purple Gallinule is fourteen inches ; its bill 

 is an inch and a quarter long, red, yellow at the tips; nostril small, 

 oblong, and near the centre of the bill ; irides tawny ; the naked 

 front and crown are red ; the head, part of the neck, throat and 

 breast are of a rich violet purple ; the back and scapulars brown- 

 ish green ; rump, tail and its coverts of a duller brownish green ; 

 the sides of the neck ultramarine ; wings the same, tinged with 

 green; the inner webs of the quill feathers and tail dusky brown; 

 upper lining and side lining of the wings, under the spurious wing, 

 rich light blue ; the belly, thighs, and for an inch behind, dull 

 purplish black; the vent pure white; tail rounded; thighs, legs and 

 feet red; span of the foot five inches; hind toe and claws long. 



It is somewhat remarkable that Turton, in his translation of 

 the Systema Natura^ should have perpetuated the error of arrang- 

 ing the Gallinules with the Coots, under the generical appellation 

 of Fulica^lo which they have but little resemblance in their habits, 

 and none in the conformation of their feet. As he professed to 

 have been assisted by the works of Dr. Latham, one would sup- 

 pose that the classification of the latter, especially in this instance, 

 would have been adopted. 



