( 87 ) 
^he Purple Water-Hen. 
T his Bird was of the Bigneis of a middle fixed Hen^ though its Bill and Legs were much* 
lar<yer i the Bill meafured an Inch and three Quarters from Point to the Corners of the 
Mouth ; from the Point to its upper Part on the Crown of the Head two Inches and three Quar- 
ters ; the Leg, from the Knee downward,, four Inches ^ the middle Toe without the Claw tour- 
Bflfis of a fine Red-colour, Part of it eJttending itfelf t& the Middle of the Crown of the 
Head above the Eyes, where it ends in an oval Figure; the Bill is very much comprefled fide- 
ways, its Height being more than double its Width ; there is a great Likenels of Colour all over 
the Body of this Bird, fb that it need only be laid that it is of a^ fine Blue, a little inclining to 
Violet, except the covert Feathers under the Tail, which are White : Yet is there Ibme Diverfity 
in the Colouring; the Sides of the Head, the fore Part of the Neck and Breaft, and the covert 
Feathers of the Wings, are the moft bright and Ihining, and vary a little in different Pofitions, 
appearing Ibmetkncs of perfect Blue, at other Turns partaking fomething of Red, which makes a 
Purple Appearance, and in fbme Lights it feems to have a little GIols of Green on the Back : 
The Top of the Head, hind Part of the Neck, Thighs, lower Belly, and Quills of the 
Wings, are of a dark Brown, or Blackilh Colour, having only a faint Mixture of Blue in them ; 
the covert Feathers of the Wings within-fide are Blue ; the Quills within of a rufty Black ; the 
Legs are bare of Feathers an Inch and half above the Knees ; both Legs and Feet are of a pleafant 
Red-colour, fomething like Rofe-colour ; it hath pretty ftrong brown Claws ; the Toes have 
nothing like Fins or Membranes along their Sides, as is common m other Water-Hens. 1 lie 
Body of this Bird was remarkably comprefled fideways, contrary to the Duck Kind; I 
believe Nature hath given, him this Form, that-he may the more commodioufiy pafs amongfl: 
Canes and Reeds, which generally cover the Banks of Rivers. 
This Bird is now preferved in Spirits in the Colleflion of Sir Hans Shane, Bart. The Bilt 
and Legs were of a Yellowifii Colour when dead, but Sir Hans fhewed me a fine Drawing 
taken from the living Bird, wherein they were Red, as I have above deferibed them. _ The 
Toes of this Bird are four in Number,, Handing three forward and one backward, in the 
ullial Manner, contrary to the monftrous and fiftitious Accounts many Authors, who never 
faw it, give of them. Mr. George Bell, Surgeon, in London, has told me he has feen of thefe 
Birds in China. The Curious, who would fee the Anatomy of this Bird, may confult Me- 
moires de l^ Acadetnie JRjoyale des Sciences, depuis 1666. julcju*'a' 1699* Tome 3* troifieme Partie,. 
p. 50. where it is called Poule-SuUane y theyluppole.it to be the Porph^rio of the Antients s* They 
account for the changeable Colours of the Feathers, by fuppofing that the fine Fibres are of difl 
ferent Colours on different Sides; fo that by different Pofitions, the different Sides of the Fibres 
ftrike the Eye with different Colours, which they would demonttrate by Silks fhot with 
different Colour, which have the fame Effeft on the Eye. It was found true, by Qbfervatioii. 
made tstVerJailles, that it lifts, its Meat to its Mouth with its Foot as Parrots do-, but. that 
it drinks as other Fowls do, by taking Water in its Bill, and raifing its Head to fwallow it. 
I have by me a Print of Birds publifh’d at Paris, Drawn by P'. Boel, wherein are two of thefe 
Birds, in pretty Adions, where they are calPd Bluets, which I think a very proper Name, for 
diey feem at firft Sight perfeftly Blue. I am fully fatisfy’d that no Engltjh Author on Birds 
ever deferib’d this Bird from Nature, therefore I hope this Draught and Defeription will be ac- 
ceptable,. though we have a dark Account of the Bird in Willoughby, and adarker by Min; 
