782 
GALLINULA CHLOROPUS. 
Immature. Head and the upper parts olive-brown ; throat whitish and ashy ; feathers of the lower part of the breast 
greyish, tipped with whitish ; the flank-stripes small and terminated with fulvous ; bill dusky olive, reddish at 
the base of the upper mandible ; shield small : legs and feet greenish ; tarsus not so yellow as in the adult ; no red 
garter above the knee. (October : "Wales.) 
An immature example from Manilla corresponds with the above ; the whitish feathers of the chin and fore neck are 
tipped with blackish. 
Obs. This is one of those species (spread over a large portion of the globe) which not unfrequently exhibit in indi- 
viduals, and according to locality, external points of difference, but not to such an extent or of such a constant 
character as to admit of its division into races. It is in the matter of dimensions and size of frontal casque that 
the present bird chiefly varies. After an examination of a large series, Mr. Dresser comes to the conclusion that 
Indian examples differ from European in having a shorter wing and a larger frontal plate, reaching as far back as 
the anterior corner of the eye, or to within 0 - 15 inch of it. In the majority of European examples, so far as my 
personal examination tends to prove, there is a space of about 02 between the eye and the side of the plate ; but 
there is doubtless some variation in this respect both in India and Europe. Indian examples decidedly appear to 
average shorter in the wing, as will be seen by a reference to Dr. Scully’s measurements above quoted, as also by 
the fact that Mr. Hume tabulates his Sindh specimens at from 6-9 to 0-0 in the wing*, the smaller of which dimen- 
sions, however, relates to females. Sehlegel’s measurements of Asiatic and Philippine skins are: — Japan, wing 
6-28 to 6-66 ; China, wing 6T8 ; Philippines, wing 6-25 to 6-34. The South- African race is smaller than the 
above — wing 6‘05 to 6'3. Blyth’s G. burnesi from Sindh is, in all probability, the immature of the present 
species. It was separated on account of its smaller size, and the outer web of the 1st primary being white, as also 
the border of the outer winglet-feathers and the orange garter being less developed ; but these characters apply 
to immature G. chloropus. Besides which, Mr. Hume remarks that the specimens he assigns to this race have 
a smaller frontal plate, a white chin and throat, and a brown head, nape, and back — all of which are characters of 
the young of the common Moorhen. The American form (G. galeata ) appears to be scarcely separable from the 
European, possessing merely a longer wing, which, according to Mr. Dresser’s measurements of a series, varies 
from 6‘7 to 7 - 4 inches. 
The race inhabiting Madagascar has been separated by Professor Newton as G. pyr/'horrhoa, on account of having the 
frontal plate larger, the legs yellow, and the under tail-coverts buff. 
Gallimla hamatopus, Temm., from Celebes, is closely allied to the present species, but differs notably in wanting the 
flank-stripes, and the back is slaty bluish, not olive-green. An example in the national collection measures in 
the wing 7-3 inches, tarsus 2-3. The Moorhen of the Hawaiian Islands appears to be an interesting local form, 
which, like the last-named, is really a good species, inasmuch as its distinguishing characters do not entirely 
depend upon the very variable frontal shield, or a difference in size, but upon the coloration of the under surface, 
which wants the white markings on the abdomen, although it possesses the white flank-stripes. The frontal 
shield is, however, very large, reaching almost beyond the posterior corner of the eyes. It has been lately sepa- 
rated as G. sandvicensis by Dr. Streets, TJ.8. Navy. 
Distribution. — The Common Waterhen does not appear to be a permanent resident in Ceylon, or it would 
be more often met with. It is exceedingly rare in the island ; and I infer it is a visitor from the adjoining 
coast, wandering south, perhaps, during the prevalence of high northerly winds, and, after it reaches the shores 
of Ceylon, perhaps becoming stationary. It is possible, however, that, as it is in some parts of the world a 
bird of passage, migratory stragglers may visit Ceylon, returning again to India. But it has been so seldom 
observed in the island that any hypothesis as to its visits must remain mere conjecture until further observa- 
tions have been made. 
At present I only know of its having been twice met with. Layard, with his usual good fortune, obtained 
one specimen in a marsh near Pt. Pedro, and thus added the species to the avifauna of Ceylon. Recently 
a second example came under the notice of my friend Mr. Parker, and was shot in April this year (1879) at 
Nikaweratiya tank on the Kurunegala and Puttalam road. This is a large sheet of water, and a likely spot 
for such a bird as the Moorhen, which may perhaps inhabit other extensive tanks in the northern district of 
the island. 
* And if we unite the supposed smaller Nortk-Indian race G. burnesi, Blyth, these measurements fall as low as 
6‘0 inches. 
