( 8 ? ) 
The Purple Water-Hen. 
T his Bird was of the Bignels of a middle fized Uen^ though its Bill and Legs were much: 
larger^ the Bill meafured an Inch and three Quarters from Point to the Corners of the 
Mouth i from the Point to its upper Part on the Crown of the Head two Inches and three Quar- 
,ters I the Leg, from the Knee downward, four Inches j the middle Toe without the Claw four 
:Inches long. 
. The Bill is of a fine Red-colour, Part of it extending itfelf to 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 donblo fts Width j there is a great Likenell of Colour all over 
the Body of this Bird, fo that it need only be faid 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 fome Diverfity 
in. the Colourings the Sides of the Head, the fore Part of the Neck and Breaft, and the covert 
Feathers of die Wings, are the moft bright and fhining, and vary a little in different Pofitions,, 
appearing fometimes of perfed Blue, at other Turns partaking fomething of Red, which makes a 
Purple Appearance, and in fbme Lights it feems to have a little Glofs of Green on the Back r 
The Top of the Head, hind Part of the Neck, Thighs, lower Belly, and Quills of the 
Wings, are of a dark Brown, or Blackifh Colour, having only a faint Mixture of Blue in them i. 
the covert Feathers of the Wings within-fide are Blue; the Quills within of a rufty Blackthe. 
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 in other Water-Hens. The 
Body of this Bird was remarkably compreffed fideways, contrary to the Duck Kindt 
believe Nature hath given him this Form, that he may the more commodioufly pals amongft 
Canes and Reeds, which generally cover the Banks of Rivers. 
This Bird is now preferved in Spirits in the Colled ion of Sir Hans Shane^ Bart; The Bill' 
and Legs were of a Yellowifh Colour when dead, but Sir Hms fhewed me a fine Drawing 
taken from the living Bird, wherein they were Red, as I have above defcribed them. The 
Toes of this Bird are four in Number, ftanding three forward and one backward,, in che 
ufual Manner, contrary to the monftrous and fiditious Accounts many Authors, who never 
faw it, give of them. Mr. George Bell^ Surgeon, in London., has toW 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 Ac ademie Roy ale des Sciences., depuis 1666. juiqu^a 1699. Tome 3. troifieme Partie,. 
p. 50. where it is called Foule-Sultane', they fuppofe it to 1 ^ tht Porphyrio the AntkntsThey 
account for the changeable Colours of the Feathers, by fuppofing that the fine Fibres afe of dif¬ 
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 demonftrate by: Silks foot with> 
different Colour, which have the fame Effed on the Eye. It was found true, by Obfervation. 
made ^zVerfailks, 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 fwaflow it. 
I have by me a Print of Birds publifh^d at Paris., Drawn by P\ Boel^ wherein are two of tbefc 
Birds, in pretty Adions, where they are ealPd Bluets^ which I think a very proper Name, for 
they feem at firfl Sight perfedly Blue.. I am fully fatisfyM that no Englijh Author on Birds 
ever defcrib’d this Bird from Nature, therefore I hope this Draught and Defcription will be ac¬ 
ceptable, though we have a dark. Account of the-Bird in Wiiloughhy^^ and a darker by Jlbin^ 
