PORPHYRIO.
Like " Gallinula " but bill higher ; nares not in a groove ; colour largely blue ; frequent lakes ; nest among reeds ; eggs like those of Waterhen.
Porphyrio cmruleus (Vandelli). PURPLE GALLINULE. ? Purple blue, face, throat, and chest brighter ; abdomen blackish blue ; under tail coverts white. Iris red. Bill and frontal plate dark red. Legs and feet coral red, joints of toes brownish. Wing j 260-28o, y 250-263 (H.). Tarsus 92-too. Bill from feathers at side of plate 40.
Resident —S. Portugal, S. Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sardinia, Sicily. Of occasional occurrence in S. France and Italy.
Porphyrio madagascariensis (Latham). GREEN LACKED GALLINULE.
Resembles " cxruleus" but greenish above, face and throat much paler blue ; crown, hind neck, wing coverts, quills, and underparts purplish blue. Bill and frontal shield bright red. Legs and feet coral red. Wing j y e the larger.
Tarsus 86-102. Bill from end of frontal shield 5 (H.).
Resident —Africa north to Sahara, and Nile Valley up to Alexandria and Lake Menzaleh. Has occurred Sicily and Sardinia.
Porphyrio alleni Thompson. ALLEN'S GALLINULE.
9 Above olive green, head blackish, shading into reddish blue of neck and underparts ; under tail coverts white. Iris bluish red. Bill red. Frontal shield dark greenish blue. Legs and feet brownish red. Wing 160-170, 9 145-155. Tarsus 50-55. Bill from end of frontal shield 36-44 (H.).
An African breeding species which has occasionally occurred, chiefly in autumn and winter, in various parts of S. Europe and N. Africa, e.g., Alexandria (1), Sicily (2), Italy (2), Azores (several), Madeira (I), Spain (t), Morocco (1), Tunis (I), England (1).