EALLID.E — THE RAILS — R ALIUS. 351 



and Crex, have this member comparatively short and thick. The Coots and Gallinules 

 have the base of the cuhnen continued upon the forehead, Avhere it widens out into a 

 more or less gibbous or expanded plate or frontal shield. The Coots, however, are 

 peculiar in having the toes fringed with scalloped flaps or lateral lobes. 



The three sub-families of BalUdoi occurring in North America may be thus 

 distinguished : — 



Rallinae. No frontal process ; toes without lateral lobes ; size variable ; bill sometimes 



much elongated. 

 Gallinulinae. A frontal process,' as in Fulicince ; toes without lateral lobes ; size large. 

 Fulicinae. A frontal process, as in Gallinulince ; toes with a lateral lobed margin ; size 



large. 



The several sub-families having thus been defined, the North American genera 

 may be characterized as follows : — 



Sub-family RALLIN.E. — The True Rails, 



A. Bill slender, equal to or longer than tlie tarsus. 



1. Rallus. [Characters as above.] 



B. Bill stunt, not more than two thirds the tarsus (usually much less), 



2. Porzana. Middle toe about equal to or slightly longer than tarsus ; base of gonys not 



forming a decided angle ; middle of culineu decidedly depressed or concave. 



3. Crex. Middle toe shorter than tarsus ; base of gonys forming a decided angle ; middle of 



culmen scarcely apprecialjly depressed. 



Sub-family GALLINULINAE. — The Gallinules. 



4. lonornis. Nostril small, oval ; middle toe shorter than tarsus ; toes without trace of 



lateral membrane ; inner posterior face of tarsus with a single row of large quadrate 

 scutellse. 



5. Gallinula. Nostril elongated, slit-like ; middle toe longer than tarsus ; toes with a 



decided indication of lateral membrane ; inner posterior face of tarsus covered with 

 several irregular rows of small hexagonal scales. 



Sub-family FULICIN.E. — The Coots. 



6. Fulica. Nostrils, and proportionate length of toes and tarsus, as in Gallinula; toes 



bordered with a very wide, scalloped, lateral membrane ; inner posterior face of tarsus 

 covered with small scales, as in Gallinula} 



Gexus rallus, Linn^us. 



Eallus, Lixx. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 153 ; ed, 12, 1766, 261 (type, R. aquaticus, LxNN.), 



Char. Bill longer than the head, rather slender, compressed ; upper mandible slightly curved ; 

 nostrils in a long groove, and with a large membrane ; wings short ; tertiary quills long, frequently 

 longer than the primaries ; tail very short ; legs moderate ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe, and 

 covered on all sides with transverse scales ; toes long and rather slender ; inner toe rather shorter 

 than the outer ; hind toe short and weak. 



This genus contains numerous species, inhabiting all the temperate countries of the world, and 

 very similar in their habits, and frequently in appearance. Their long toes enable them to run 

 over and climb amongst aquatic plants with great facility. 



1 A South American genus, Porphyriops, Pucheran, belonging to the Gallinulinae, is much like Gal- 

 linula, but has the lateral margin to the toes more decidedly developed, the gonys very short, and much 

 ascending terminally, the culmen very straight, and the frontal shield small and very pointed. 



