law of priority, now generally adopted in zoological nomenclature, does not admit, at least in the case o f the
latter bird, o f a change of the specific name, as the term minuta will always induce the impression that it is
the smallest member of its genus, whereas it is really larger than the P. pygmcea.
As is the case with the other Porzance, no sexual difference is observable in the plumage o f the ad u lts;
but the young, on the other hand, have all the under surface greyish white, in lieu o f dark blue-grey.
Very young birds, that is, ju st after their exclusion from the nest, I have never seen ; but I have no doubt
that they are very similar in colour to those of the Spotted Crake.
The figure in the opposite Plate, with its accompaniments, the Swallow-tailed Butterfly (Papilio Machaon)
and the Yellow Water-Lily (Nuphar luted), will, I trust, be of interest. Others might have been chosen, but
those selected are in unison with the bird.
