GALLINULA PORZANA. 
SPOTTED GALLINULE. 
Generic Character. See Gallinula Chloropus. 
Synonyms. 
Gallinula Porzana. Ind. Orn, 2. p. ^772. 19. 
Rallus Porzana. Lin Si/st. 1. p. 262, S. 
Spotted Gallinule. Br, Zool, 2. 215. Ib fol. 130. 
tab, X*. L Arct. ZooL Supt. p. 69. 
Lath. Si/n. 5, p, 264. 18. Mont, Orn. 
Diet, VoLL Bewick's Br, Birds, PL2. 
p. 25. 
, Egg. Ovarium Brit. Pt. 2, 
J_ HIS elegant bird is in length nine inches, in breadth 
about fifteen, and its weight rather exceeds for ounces. 
Bill three fourths of an inch long ; irides light red ; legs 
delicately slender ; colour alike in both sexes ; the female 
has not the bare skin on the forehead of so bright a colour 
as in the male* 
The Spotted Water Hen is one of the most beautiful of 
our water birds ; it frequents marshes and shallow 
streams, where it breeds ; is met in greater abundance 
^ within a few miles of London, than perhaps in any other 
parts of this kingdom ; its nest is composed of sticks, 
decayed grass, and rushes, and is said to be fastened to a 
living plant, by which it is prevented from being carried 
away 
