256 
HYACINTHINE rORPHYRIO. 
green: quills the same, with their inner margins 
brown : its cheeks, throat, fore part of the neck, anil 
under part of the body violet-blue ; tail dull green, 
and rounded in shape : legs very stout and deep red. 
The female is similar in colour, but smaller. 
Native of most of the warm countries of the old 
world. It is found in abundance in southern Africa, 
the island of Madagascar, and the Isle of France ; 
likewise in the East Indies and the adjacent islands. 
It is frequently kept in the parks of the south of 
France on account of its beauty : a pair kept in an 
aviary in that country made a nest of small sticks, 
mixed with straw ; and the female laid six white eggs, 
perfectly round. The manners of these birds are 
very gentle, and they are said to be easily tamed : 
they feed principally on small fish ; but will also 
devour fruit, seeds, the roots of plants, and grain. 
Their flesh is said to be excellent. 
HYACINTHINE PORPHYRIO, 
(Porphyrio hyacinthus.) 
Vo. Jronte pedibusque rujis, corpore cceruleo, tectricibns cmidce 
inferioribus albis. 
Porphyrio with the front and legs red, the body blue, and the 
under tail-coverts white. 
Televe Porphyrion. (Porphyrio hyacinthus. ) Temm. man. d'Orn.' 
2 Edit. ii. 698. 
Purple Water Hen. Ediv. Birds, pi. 87- 
