74 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



of the Gruiformes, or even included in the GalH- 

 formes. The Finfoots here forming a separate 

 family only (Heliornithidae); although obviously 

 allied to the Rails, are probably a more archaic 

 and less specialised group. They number but 

 four species. The anterior toes have broad 

 scalloped webs. The young are reputed to be 

 hatched naked, but next to nothing is known of 

 the reproduction in this family. Their general 

 habits are Rail-like. The single curious form 

 constituting the family Mesitidae has the toes 

 without webs or scallops, and the presence of 

 powder-down patches {conf. p. 17) is a special 

 feature. The bill is long and slender, the wings 

 rounded, the lores and orbits are naked. But 

 little is known of this curious bird's habits. 

 The Rails are remarkable for their much com- 

 pressed body, comparatively short rounded 

 wings, long legs and toes, the latter sometimes 

 furnished with webs and scallops. Some of 

 the Rails are incapable of flight, and conse- 

 qufcnfly these in most instances are threatened 

 with extermination. The bill, in this order, is 

 subject to considerable variation; long and com- 

 paratively weak in the Rails, short and stout 

 in the Crakes, and strongest of all in the 

 Gallinules. In not a few cases the forehead is 



