MARTINICO G ALLIN ULE. 
189 
ance in the Sea Islands of Georgia, in the latter part of April, 
and after spending the summer, it departs, with its young, in 
the autumn. The marshes of Mexico appear to be its winter 
residence. It frequents the rice fields and fresh water ponds, 
in company with the common gallinule ; but the latter, being 
of a more hardy nature, remains all winter both in Georgia 
and Florida. 
During its migration, this bird is frequently driven to sea ; 
and I have known two or three instances of its having sought 
refuge on board of vessels. On the 24th May, 1824, a brig 
arrived at Philadelphia from New Orleans, bringing a fine 
living specimen, which had flown on board of her in the Gulf 
Stream. This bird is now [1825] alive in the Philadelphia 
Museum. In the month of August, 1818, a storm drove 
another individual on board of a vessel, in her passage from 
Savannah to Philadelphia. This also lived for some time in 
Peale’s Museum. 
The Martinico gallinule is a vigorous and active bird. It 
bites hard, and is quite expert in the use of its feet. When it 
seizes upon any substance with its toes, it requires a considerable 
effort to disengage it. Its toes are long, and spread greatly. 
It runs with swiftness ; and, when walking, it jerks its tail in 
the manner of the common rail. Its manners and food are 
somewhat similar to those of the far-famed purple gallinule, 
whose history is so beautifully detailed in the works of Buffbn. 
In its native haunts, it is vigilant and shy ; and it is not 
easy to spring it, without the assistance of a dog. 
Length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, four- 
teen inches ; bill, an inch and a quarter long, vermilion, green- 
ish yellow at the tip ; irides, pale cornelian ; naked crown, dull 
azure ; head, part of the neck, throat, and breast, of a rich 
violet purple ; back and scapulars, olive green ; rump, tail, and 
its coverts, brownish green ; sides of the neck, and wings, 
ultra-marine, the latter tinged with green ; shoulders of wings, 
rich azure; inner webs of the ^ quills and tail-feathers, dusky 
brown ; belly and thighs, dull purplish black ; vent, pure white ; 
