Allen's Gallinule
Porphyrio alleni Thompson, 1842 (1, 0)
Photo © By Martien Brand from Mariënberg, The Netherlands - 37907 Afrikaans Purperhoen / Allen's Gallinule, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9732844
STATUS
Africa. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Every specimen recorded in the possession of J. B. Nichols has turned out to be a 'Hastings Rarities' fraud, so this record requires a review. Also, Patterson (1905) knew of a consignment of these species to London at the time.
A review is necessary.
RECORD
1). 1902 Norfolk/Suffolk Off Hopton-on-Sea, Suffolk, juvenile, caught exhausted on a fishing boat, 1st January.
(J. H. Gurney, jun., Field 8th Feb., 1902: 183; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 98-99; J. H. Gurney, jun., Field 22nd Feb., 1902: 281; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 102: 150; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 198, corr.; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1904: 219; Patterson, 1905; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 146-147; Witherby, 1920-24; BOURC (1974), Ibis 116: 578; R. Hudson, British Birds 67: 405-413).
History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1902) in The Field of 8th Feb., Vol. XCIX. p. 183, says: 'On the last day of the year a gallinule of a terra-cotta colour, about the size of a Moorhen but with more slender legs, alighted on a fishing boat off Hopton, a village near Yarmouth, and, being captured, was taken to Mr. Lowne, taxidermist, of that town. It was at first thought to be a Porphyrio martinica, which has already been a claimant for admission to the British list; but the young of that species is more olive in colour.
With the assistance of skins kindly lent by Professor Newton, it was decided that the stranger was a very immature example of Allen's Gallinule (P. alleni, Thomp.), closely resembling the hind figure in Dresser's Birds of Europe. When I saw it two days after its capture it was still alive, and in beautiful feather, not showing the smallest signs of being an escaped prisoner; indeed, it is a very rare bird in confinement, and as there was a high wind from S.W. at the time of capture, I think we may conclude that it is a migrant.
I know that the time of year is somewhat against this theory, Professor Giglioli, of Florence, writes that P. alleni has been taken in both Italy and Sicily in December. See also Giglioli, Avifauna Italica, pp. 353, 354. The true home of this bird is Africa, and it seems to be generally distributed over the greater portion of that continent. All this tribe of birds are great wanderers, and I learn from Mr. Bartlett that there is one in the Zoological Gardens which was caught on a ship 400 miles from land (see P.Z.S., 1900, p. 660). Thinking it might have been turned out by the Duke of Bedford, inquiries were made at Woburn Park, but none are known to have escaped from there, though a number of the larger Porphyrios (P. smaragdonotus) were released in 1897. Nor has Mr. Castang, of Leadenhall Market, imported any of these birds recently.'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. pp. 98-99, says: 'December 31st. On the last day of December, a Gallinule of a cinnamon colour, and about the size of a Moorhen, alighted on a fishing boat off Hopton, a village near Yarmouth, and being caught was taken to Mr. Walter Lowne.
With the assistance of books and skins, kindly lent by Prof. Newton, it was decided that the stranger was an immature Allen's Gallinule (Porphyriola alleni (Thompson)), resembling the hind figure in the plate in Dresser's Birds of Europe, a native of Africa which has occasionally occurred in the south of Europe, and has also been taken at sea. Two days afterwards it was still alive at Mr. Lowne's house, showing no signs of confinement, except in being tame, which Porphyrios generally are; and as there was a high wind from S.W. at the time of its capture, I think we may look upon it as a wanderer strayed from the south.
I know that the time of year is somewhat against this theory, Prof. Giglioli, of Florence, writes that P. alleni has been taken in both Italy and Sicily in December; see also Giglioli, Avifauna Italica, pp. 353, 354. It is also true, as Prof. Newton remarks, that few species escape from a cage more readily than those of this genus, because they look bulky, while in reality they can squeeze through a very small opening. Enquiries ascertained that it was not a fugitive from Woburn Park, where a number of P. smaragdonotus were turned out in 1896 and in 1897.
All Crakes and Gallinules are wanderers, because they fly high and are probably easily carried away by storms, and it is easier to explain the appearance of Porzana maruetta in Berkshire and the Hebrides, of Porphyriola martinica in Ireland, of Aramides cayennensis in Wiltshire, and of P. alleni at Yarmouth by the theory of their being storm-driven migrants assisted by ships, than by the alternative theory of escape. There are scores of authentic records of Water Rails, Corn Crakes, Gallinules, and Porphyrios being caught on ships.
I learn from Mr. J. B. Nichols that the Allen's Gallinule was not captured on Dec. 31st, but on the morning of Jan. 1st, when the wind was again W.S.W. but had moderated a little, and the weather was rather misty at Yarmouth.'
J. H. Gurney, jun. (1902) in The Field of 22nd Feb., Vol. XCIX. p. 281, says: 'The owner of the specimen of Allen's Gallinule, which was taken at sea off Yarmouth, Mr. J. B. Nichols, requests me to correct a slight mistake in my report of its occurrence. It seems that the bird was not taken on Dec. 31, but on the morning of Jan. 1. On that day the wind was W.S.W., almost the same direction as the day before, but not quite so strong (registered force, 3 at Yarmouth), and the weather misty. There seems every reason to believe that the bird was a migrant blown out of its proper course, like the Carolina Crake recently recorded in your columns.'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. p. 150, says: 'I learn from the Duchess of Bedford that a pair of Porphyriola alleni were certainly turned out with other birds at Woburn Abbey, but this took place in 1889, and it seems quite impossible that either of this pair can be the example captured on a boat off Yarmouth on Jan. 1st, 1902 (cf. ante, p. 98). Even if they had survived so long, they would by that time have been in adult plumage, which is purple, whereas the Yarmouth specimen is immature.'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. p. 198, says: 'The following applies to my last Norfolk Notes: - Page 99, line 11, for "maruetta" read "carolina".'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1904) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VIII. p. 219, says: 'In The Ibis (1903, p. 431), Mr. Joseph Whitaker announces two occurrences of Porphyriola alleni in Sicily - one in December, 1902, the other in January, 1903 - as well as the capture of a third in North Tunisia in December, 1902. I submit that this is corroboration of the genuineness as a wild migrant of the example taken on a boat at Yarmouth on January 1st, 1902, and already recorded (Zool., 1902, p. 98). It is certainly remarkable that this Gallinule should come at this time of the year to any part of Europe, for it would be more natural to expect its visits late in spring or in the early autumn.'
Patterson (1905) p. 208, says: 'On 1st January 1902, an example of this species landed on a fishing boat just off the coast near Hopton, Norfolk. The live bird was taken to Mr. W. Lowne, taxidermist, where I saw it in a cage taking mealworms. It was later preserved. It seems impossible to regard this bird as anything but an escape, considering the time of year; and from inquiries I made at the time I ascertained that a well-known London dealer in foreign birds and animals had recently received a consignment of these birds; indeed, at the time I saw an advertisement, offering live examples, in a paper largely devoted to the Fancy.
On the other hand, Mr. J. H. Gurney (Zoologist 1904: 98) considers it a genuine migrant.'
H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 146-147, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', placing the record in square brackets, say: 'An immature example of this African species alighted on a fishing-boat off Hopton, near Yarmouth, on January 1st, 1902, and was captured (J. H. Gurney, Zool., 1902, p. 98).
The species has occurred in the winter in Italy and Sicily, and it is possible that this bird was a genuine storm driven migrant. The specimen is now in the possession of Mr. J. B. Nichols. It may be noted that a bird of this species has been recorded as having been caught at sea 190 miles off the coast of Liberia.'
Accepted locally for Suffolk (Ticehurst 1932: 463-464).
Admitted nationally in their Eighth Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1974) Ibis 116: 578).
Comment The record lingered under the escape caveat until 1974 when the BOURC accepted it as the first British record.
However, every specimen recorded in the possession of J. B. Nichols has turned out to be a Hastings Rarities fraud. Perhaps Paterson hadn't been read by 1974 by the BOURC, because I agree with him.
