BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—GALLINULA MARTINICA. 
753 
Abundant in the southern States, and occasionally occurring on the coasts of New Jersey and 
New York. This species much resembles the Gallinule of Europe, ( G . cldoropus,) and other 
species of the Old World, which appear to be mainly distinguishable from each other hy the 
shape and size of the frontal plates which characterize all the species of this genus. This is said 
to be quadrate in our bird instead of acute. The toes also are longer. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of specimen. 
452 
204 
1204 
9824 
9825 
October 18, 1841 
May 14, 1840 
Spring, 1841 
S. F. Baird__ 
__do ___ 
_do__ 
Head, wing, and leg_ 
--Q-- 
Michigan_-_ 
Lake Elizabeth.__ __ 
Lieut. Williamson__ 
San Pedro__ 
Major Emory_ 
Porphyrula, B1 y t h . 
GALLINULA MARTINICA, (Linn.) Lath. 
Purple Gallinule. 
Fulica martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766. 259. 
Gallinula martinica, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 769.— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 231.— Nutt. Man. 11,221.— 
Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 37 ; pi. 305.— Ib. Syn. 210.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 128 ; 
pi. 303. 
Crex martinica, Licht. Verz. 1823, 79. 
Poiphyrio martinica, Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 377.— Cab. Jour. 1856, 429. 
Fulica marlinicensis, Jacquin, Beit.'1784, 12 ; pi. iii.— Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 700. 
Ionornis martinicensis, Reich. Syst. Av. 1853, p. xxi. 
Fulica Jlavirostris, 6m, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 699. 
Porphyrio tavoua, Vieill. Gal. II, 1825, 170. 
Porphyria cyanicollis, Vieill. 
Gallinula porphyrio, Wils. Am. Orn. IX, 1824, 69 ; pi. lxxiii. 
Porphyrio americanus, Siv. Class. Birds, II, 1837, 357. 
Martinico gallinule, Lath. Syn. Ill, i, 255; pi. lxxxiii. 
Sp. Ch.—F rontal plate large, obovate ; bill about as long as the head, thick, compressed ; wings long ; tail short; legs long, 
robust; toes and claws long. Head and entire under parts fine bluish purple, darker and sometimes nearly black on the abdo¬ 
men and tibiae ; lower tail coverts white ; sides and under wing coverts bluish green. Upper parts of body dark olive green, 
tinged with brown on the back and rump ; quills and tail feathers brownish black, edged with green on the outer webs of the 
feathers ; bill bright red, tipped with yellow ; frontal plate blue ; legs yellow. 
Total length, about ^ inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 3 ; bill, 1± ; tarsus, 2j inches. 
Hab. —Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida. Accidental in the middle and northern United States. 
Western ? 
This very handsome bird is of frequent occurrence on the coasts of the southern States of this 
republic and in South America. It is occasionally met with as far north as New Jersey, and 
more rarely in New York and Massachusetts. We have never seen a specimen from the coasts 
of the Pacific. 
Catalogue No. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Collected by— 
1827 
Surinam__ 
S. F. Baird.. 
Dr. Calhoun... 
95 b 
August 12, 1858. 
