144 



BRANCH VERTEBRATA. 



The Purple Gallinule (gal'lin ui), abundant in the 

 Southern, but accidental in the Northern States, has a 

 rich and variegated plumage. It seeks its food of larvae, 

 weeds, and grains, upon the surface of the water only, 

 its compressed body and large feet enabling it to thread 

 its way among aquatic stems and to walk upon floating 

 plants. 



FIG. 345. 



FIG. 246. 



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w 

 >w 



lonor'nis mar tin' lea. Purple Galliuule (;.) Fu'tica americCt'na. Coot. (}.) 



The Coot, having lobecl feet, is adapted to an almost 

 exclusively aquatic life, and hence, swimming and diving 

 with great address, is seldom seen on the land. 



ORDER HERODIONES (he ro di o'nez). 



The Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc., are generally of large 

 size, with long, S-bent necks, and tufts of matted feathers 

 (powder down) on both sides of the breast and posterior 

 part of the body. The use of these singular patches is 

 wholly a matter of conjecture. In flying, they double 

 their neck and stretch back their legs. The latter serve 

 as a rudder, their short tail being unfitted for this office. 



The Ibis inhabits all parts of the world, and some 

 species migrate so irregularly as to be nowhere at home. 

 Its long, arcuate bill is adapted to rooting in the mud in 



