THE GALLINULE. 
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pale gray, and the under part white. They have been 
called Sea Swallows, from appearing to have all the same 
actions at sea that the swallow has on land, seizing every 
insect which appears on the surface, and darting down upon 
the smaller fishes, which they seize with incredible rapidity. 
The Lesser Tern weighs only two ounces five grains. 
The bill is yellow, and from the eyes to the bill is a black 
line : in other respects it almost exactly resembles the 
preceding. 
The Black Tern is of a middle size between the two 
preceding species. It weighs two ounces and a half. It 
receives its name from being all black as far as the vent, 
except a white spot under the throat. This bird is called 
in some parts the Car Swallow. It is very noisy. 
Among the birds of this tribe, one of the most singular 
is the Striated Tern, which is a native of New Zealand. 
It has a black bill, and the body is in general mottled, or 
rather striped with black and white. Its length is about 
thirteen inches. 
PUBPLE GALLINULE. {Gallinula porphyrio.') 
u This bird,” says Latham, “ is more or less common in 
all the warmer parts of the globe. On the coasts of Bar- 
bary they abound, as well as in some of the islands of the 
