36 TURNSTONE.
its claw ^ ; middle toe its claw Average weight of three
specimens Bf oz,
; Male in winter. Plate eCCIV. Fig. 2.
In winter, the throat, lower parts, middle of the back, upper tail-
.coverts, and hand across the wing, are white, as in slimmer ; the tail,
and quills, are also similarly coloured, hut the inner secondaries are destitute
of red, of which there are no traces on the upper parts, they being
of a dark greyish-brown colour, the feathers tipped or margined
with paler; the outer edges of the outer scapulars, and some of the
smaller wing-coverts, white; on the sides and fore part of the neck the
feathers blackish, with white shafts.
Individuals vary much according to age and sex, as well in size as
in colour, scarcely two in summer plumage being found exactly similar.
In a male bird, the tongue is H of an inch in length, sagittate and
papillate at the base, concave above; narrow, and tapering to the point.
The oesophagus is 4J inches long, inclines to the right, Is rather narrow,
and uniform, its diameter Proventriculus oblong, ^ in length,
j5, in breadth, its glandules cylindrical. Stomach oblong,. 4 £ in length,
its cuticular lining very tough and hard, with broad longitudinal rugae,
its lateral muscles moderately large. Intestine 174 inches long; slender,
varying in diameter from to ^ ; rectum Caeca l^j , i J i"
diameter at the commencement, T2£ toward the end; cloaca globular.
The trachea is S i inches'ilong, in breadth, contracts to ^ ; its
lateral muscles very thin; sterno-traeheal slender, ;a pair of trachealibronchial
muscles. The rings are very thin and unossified, 104 in
number. Bronchi of moderate length, with about 15 half rings.
In a female; the oesophagus is 4J inches long, the intestine 18. In
both individuals, the stomach contained fragments of shells, and claws
of very small crabs: which were also found in the intestine, although
there more comminuted.
( 37 )
P U R P L E G A L L I N U L E .
GALLINULA MARTINICA, LATH.
PLATE CCCV. MAM:.
READER, although you may think it strange, I candidly assure you
that I have experienced a thousand times more pleasure while looking
at the Purple Gallinule flirting its tail while gaily moving over the
broad leaves of the water-lily,.than I. have ever done while silently
sitting in .the corner of a crowded apartment, gazing on the flutterings
of gaudy fans and the wavings of flowing plumes. Would that I were
once more extended on some green grassy couch, in my native
Louisiana, , or that I lay concealed under some beautiful tree, overhanging
the dark bayou, on whose waters the bird of beauty is wont
to display its graceful movements, and the rich hues of its glossy
plumage ! Methinks I now see the charming creature gliding sylphlike
over the leaves that cover the lake, with the aid of her lengthened
toes, so admirably adapted for the purpose, and seeking the mate, who,
devotedly attached as he is, has absented himself, perhaps in search of
some secluded spot in which to place their nest. Now he comes,
gracefully dividing the waters of the tranquil pool, his-frontal crest
glowing with the brightest azure. Look at his wings, how elegantly
they ar.e spread and obliquely r a i s e d s e e how his expanded tail
strikes the water; and mark the movements of his head, which is alternately
thrown backward and forward, as if he were congratulating
his mate on their happy meeting. Now both birds walk along clinging
to the stems and blades, their voices clearly disclosing their mutual
feelings of delight, and they retire to some concealed place on the nearest
shore, where we lose sight of them for a time-
Now, side by side, they look for the most secure spot among the
tall rushes that border the lake, and there they will soon form a
nest, removed alike from danger to be dreaded from the inhabitants of
the land as of the water. On the thick mass of withered leaves are
deposited the precious eggs, from which in time emerge the dusky
younglings, that presently betake themselves to the water, over which