210 
RAILING. GALLINULA. 
oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the fore- 
head, the dorsal line beyond this slightly declinate, toward 
the tip arcuate, the ridge gradually narrowed to the middle, 
then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges 
sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse ; nasal 
sinus extending nearly to the middle ; lower mandible with 
the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, 
nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. 
Nostrils submedial, lateral, oblong, direct. Head small, 
oblong, compressed ; neck of moderate length ; body large, 
much compressed. Feet large ; tibia bare at the lower 
part ; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with 
very broad anterior scutella ; hind toe rather small and 
slender ; anterior toes very long, fourth longer than second, 
third considerably longer, all scutellate. Claws very long, 
slender, slightly arched, much compressed, tapering to a very 
acute point. Plumage blended, form and wings of mode- 
rate length, broad, convex, with the second and third quills 
longest ; tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak 
feathers ; lower coverts almost as long. 
305. 1. Gallinula Martinica, Linn. Purple Gallinule. 
Plate CCCV. Male. 
Frontal plate blue ; bill carmine, tipped with yellow ; head, fore 
part of neck, and breast, purplish-blue ; abdomen and tibial feathers 
dusky ; sides and lower wing-coverts green ; lower tail-coverts white ; 
upper parts olivaceous green ; sides of neck, and outer part of wings 
greenish-blue. 
Male, ISJ, 21 
Breeds and resides from Texas to South Carolina. Stragglers seen 
as far as Massachusetts. Up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rather 
common in Louisiana and Florida. 
Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Porphyrio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 67. 
Gallinula martinica, Bonap. Syn. p. 336. 
Purple Gallinule, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 221. 
Purple Gallinule, Gallinula martinica, Auu. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 37. 
306. 2. Gallinula Chloropus, Linn. Common Gallinule. 
Plate CCXLIV. 
