RALLIDrE — THE GALLINULES — IONORNIS. 
385 
Sp. Char. Adult : Head, neck, and lower parts slaty bluish purple, darker (sometimes nearly 
black) on abdomen and tibiae ; crissum pure white ; upper parts bright olive-green, changing to 
bright verditer-blue toward the purple of the lower parts, the sides and lining of wing also greenish 
blue ; wings brighter green than back, and shaded with bright verditer-blue. Frontal shield 
bright blue in life (greenish or olivaceous in dried skins) ; bill bright red, tipped with yellow ; 
iris crimson ; legs and feet yellowish. Young : Above, light fulvous-brown, tinged with greenish 
on wings ; beneath, pale fulvous or huffy, the belly whitish ; frontal shield smaller than in adult, 
dusky (in skins); bill dull yellowish. Doivny young: “Entirely black” (Audubon). Total 
length, about 12.50 inches ; wing, 7.00-7.50 ; culmen (including frontal shield), 1.85-1.95 ; tarsus, 
2.25-2.50 ; middle toe, 2.25-2.35. 
Specimens vary remarkably in the size and form of the frontal plate. In 36785, Ceara, Brazil, 
it is broader than long, and its posterior margin rounded : usually it is longer than broad, and its 
posterior extremity an angle — sometimes acute. There is also much difference among individuals 
in the intensity of the colors. All these variations appear, however, to be purely individual, or 
perhaps partially seasonal, and entirely independent of locality. 
The Purple Gallinule is essentially a southern species, and characteristic of the 
southern districts of the United States, where it is found at all seasons of the year. 
It is met with from the Carolinas southward along the Southern Atlantic coast, and 
from Florida to Mexico along the shores of the Gulf. It also occurs in the West 
India Islands, Mexico, and Central America, and over a large extent of the northern 
portions of South America. It is a great wanderer, or in its migrations is driven Ly 
tempests to distant points, as stragglers have been found along the entire Atlantic 
coast as far eastward as the Bay of Fundy. A few are said to breed as far north as 
Charleston, S. C. This bird is an occasional visitant in Bermuda, as also in Missouri, 
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Mr. George A. Boardman informs me that a single 
instance of the accidental occurrence of this species came under his knowledge in the 
vicinity of Calais, Me. The bird was found feeding on the Hats near that city late in 
the summer ; and Mr. William Brewster also mentions the obtaining a line specimen on 
Cape Cod in April, 1870. Mr. Giraud states that this bird is only of rare and occa- 
sional occurrence on Long Island. A few instances are mentioned in which it has 
been found driven out to sea in very stormy weather. In one instance an adult male 
and female were met with three hundred miles to the south and east of the Belize. 
These were not found together, but were met with fourteen hours apart. The first 
alighted on the vessel. The other, in an attempt to alight, fell exhausted into the 
sea : it was, however, rescued; and in a short time both recruited, and arrived in New 
York in good condition. They were fed with meal, fish, bread, and various articles 
of diet from the table. They were also furnished with water for bathing, of which 
they made free use. They appeared to be quite contented in their confinement, and 
for several months seemed to enjoy perfect health, when the female was suddenly 
taken with cramps and died, the male surviving her but a few days. About the time 
of the severe revolving southerly gale of the 30th of January, 1870, an individual of 
this species was driven into the harbor of Halifax, and was secured. Mr. J. Matthew 
Jones, of that city, states that this is the only individual of the species known to 
have been taken in Nova Scotia. Mr. C. W. Wyatt met with this bird near Lake 
Paturia, in Colombia, South America, and Mr. Ley land found it in the lagoons near 
Peten, in Central America. Mr. E. C. Taylor states that it is abundant in suitable 
localities in Trinidad, and that he afterward met with it in great numbers at Porto 
Pico. Leotaud also states that he found it very abundant in Trinidad, where it keeps 
mostly among the rushes and reeds that cover the inundated meadows. At certain 
parts of the day, especially in the early morning, and still more frequently in the 
afternoon, it comes out from these hiding-places to the banks of the rivers or the bor- 
vol. i. — 49 
