BIKDS — SCOLOPACIDAE — GALLINULA MARTINICA. 
753 
Abundant in the southern States, and occasionally occurring on the coasts of New Jersey and 
New York. This species much resembles the Gallinule of Europe, (G. chloropus,) and other 
species of the Old "World, which appear to be mainly distinguishable from each other by the 
shape and size of the frontal plates which characterize all the species of this genus. This is said 
to be quadrate in our bird instead of acute. The toes also are longer. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of specimen. 
452 
204 
1204 
9824 
.9825 
Carlisle, Pa 
do 
October 18, 1841 
May 14, 1840 
Spring, 1841 
S. F. Baird 
do 
Head, wing, and leg 
-- Q.„ 
Michigan 
Lake Elizabeth 
San Pedro 
Maj or Em ory 
Porphyrula, B 1 y t h . 
GALLINULA MAETINICA, (Linn.) Lath. 
Purple Gallinnle. 
Fulica martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766. 259. 
Gallinula martinica, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 769.— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 23L— Nutt. Man. 11,221.— 
Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 37 ; pi. 305.— Ib. Syn. 210.— In . Birds Amer. V, 1842, 128 ; 
pi. 303. 
Crex martinica, Licht. Verz. 1823, 79. 
Porphyrio martinica, Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 377. — Cab. Jour. 1856, 429. 
Fulica marlinicensis, Jacquin, Beit. 1784, 12 ; pi. in. — Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 700. 
Ionornis marlinicensis, Reich. Syst. Av. 1853, p. xxi. 
Fulica Jlavirostris, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 699. 
Porphyrio tavoua, Vieill. Gal. II, 1825, 170. 
Porphyrio cyanicollis, Vieill. 
Gallinula porphyrio, Wils. Am. Orn. IX, 1824, 69 ; pi. lxxiii. 
Porphyrio americanus, Sw. Class. Birds, II, 1837, 357. 
Martinica gallinule, Lath. Syn. Ill, i, 255 ; pi. lxxxiii. 
Sp. Ch. — Frontal plate large, obovate ; bill about as long as the head, thick, compressed ; wings long ; tail short ; legs long, 
robust ; toes and claws long. Head and entire under parts fine bluish purple, darker and sometimes nearly black on the abdo- 
men and tibiae ; lower tail coverts white ; sides and under wing coverts bluLh green. Upper parts of body dark olive green, 
tinged with brown on the back and rump ; quills and tail feathers brownish black, edged with green on the outer webs of the 
feathers ; bill bright red, tipped with yellow ; frontal plate blue ; legs yellow. 
Total length, about 12|, inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 3 ; bill, 1| ; tarsus, 2| inches. 
Hah.— Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida. Accidental in the middle ana northern United States. 
Western ? 
This very handsome bird is of frequent occurrence on the coasts of the southern States of this 
republic and in South America. It is occasionally met with as far north as New Jersey, and 
more rarely in New York and Massachusetts. We have never seen a specimen from the coasts 
of the Pacific. 
Catalogue No. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Collected by— 
1827 
Surinam 
S. F. Baird 
Dr. Calhoun. 
August 12, 1858. 
95 b 
