224 WADING BIRDS. 



pools, lagoons and streams, and extends over a great portion 

 of the continent of South America. In the Middle and 

 Northen States of the Union, it appears to be quite acci- 

 dental, though as a straggler it has been seen, and shot as 

 far north as Albany, in the State of New York. Its range 

 to the north is therefore much more limited than its Euro- 

 pean analogue. Its voice is uncouth, but sonorous, and its 

 cry, or call, resembles '/:«, 'ka, 'ka! Mr. Audubon, met 

 with this species, in great numbers, in Florida, towards the 

 source of the St. John's, in the month of March. 



This species is unknov/n in Canada, or the northern 

 parts of America. The Common Gallinule [G. cMoropiis) 

 is spread over all Europe, and the temperate parts of 

 Asia, and is met with throughout the continent of Africa. 

 That of Java ( G. ardosiaca, Vieill.) is also very similar 

 with the present, and probably exists throughout India. 

 The principal traits of distinction between the three kinds, 

 till recently confounded as one, lie in the comparative 

 length of the toes, and the accompanying difference of form 

 and extent of the frontal clypeus. This bare space on 

 the forehead is much more extensive in the American and 

 Javanese species, than in tliat of Europe ; it is also round 

 in that of Java, quadrate in that of America, and narroin 

 and acute in the bird of Europe. 



The Florida Gallinule is about 14 inches long The bill 1:^ inches 

 to the rictus, and, as well as the clypeus, or bare space passing up 

 the forehead, red ; but with the point greenish. The clypeus is 

 more than an inch wide between the eyes, occupying a great por- 

 tion of the head, posteriorly terminating somewhat square or slightly 

 heart-shaped. The general color of the plumage is a dark lead 

 color, or sooty black, the head and neck being a shade darker, the 

 lower parts lighter, or almost cinereous. The back and wing cov- 

 erts are deeply tinged with olive. Primaries blackish, the tail more 

 deeply black than in the other allied species. The under tail coverts 



