THE COMMON WATEEHEN. 
331 
they may be observed in all parts of it^, espeeially plundering the 
paddoeks in which waterfowl are kept. On being approached 
they make off with great celerity, running up the latticed wire- 
work that surrounds the enclosure with singular facility, which 
they are enabled to do by means of their long toes. Being for 
the most part pinioned, they could not otherwise get out of the 
paddocks.’^ 
December Q, 1849. — We very rarely see any variety in the 
plumage of this bird; but a fresh specimen pied with white 
came under my notice to-day at Mr. Gleiinon’s, Dublin. Its 
neck was nearly all white ; about one-third of the upper portion 
of the wings next the back was also of that colour. The lower 
part of the neck and breast exhibited as much white as black : all 
the other parts of the plumage had white intermixed with the 
ordinary black colour. 
In a pond at Ivew Park, connected with the Eojal Botanic 
Garden, the surface of which is covered with Potamogeton natans, 
I once (in September 1848) remarked several of these birds, on 
my approach, run along the surface of the floating leaves as freely 
as on dry land, thus reminding me of what is stated of the 
Jacana.^ 
* Martinico Gallinule, GalUnula Martinica, Gmel. A communication 
from Ricliard Chute, Esq., of Blennerville, county Kerry — a gentleman who has 
contributed much to our knowledge of the birds of that part of Ireland — written in 
March 1846, mentioned his having received for examination a stuffed specimen of a 
bird which had in a fresh state been blown upon the coast near Brandon. It was 
said to be of a species unknown as British, and not described in any work to which 
he had access. A description of it was therefore sent to me. The dimensions of 
the different parts, and the colour, so far as noted, agreed with those of the purple 
gallinule {Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Temm.) of authors. After having compared the 
description of the specimen with one of these birds in the British Museum, and 
found an agreement there also, I noticed the circumstance in the ‘Annals of Natural 
History’ for 1846 (vol. xviii.) 
Mr. Wm. Andrews (Secretary to the Nat. Hist. Society of Dublin), to whom the 
Martinico gallinule was known, subsequently saw the specimen at Mr. Chute’s, and 
stated that it was of this species. He kindly supplied me mth particulars, leaving 
no doubt of the correctness of his decision. 
It is unnecessary to repeat the sources of error further than to state that the bird 
was considered immature, and its tarsi were said to be of a red colour. Being so painted, 
my correspondent naturally imagined that they had been red when the bird came 
into the preserver’s hands ; but, as afterwards proved, they were then yellow. It 
was found about the first week of November 1845, lying dead in a ditch near the 
village of Brandon, which is on the sea-coast. It came under the inspection of Dr. 
