546 GALLINULA. GALLINULE. 



phyrio, Ortygometra, and Gallinula, might with great pro- 

 priety be considered as sections of one and the same genus. 



The species of this genus inhabit meadows, marshes, and 

 especially swampy places on the edges of rivers, lakes, or the 

 inlets of the sea, covered with reeds, sedges, and other strong 

 herbage. They run with great speed, seldom rise on wing, 

 unless closely pursued, when they fly off in a heavy manner, 

 with their legs at first dangling. Their food consists of 

 worms, mollusca, insects, and seeds, chiefly of gramina, in 

 search of which they make excursions into the neighbouring 

 pastures. They swim and dive with ease, and when in dan- 

 ger, conceal themselves by diving and rising under a bank, 

 or merely projecting their head under cover of the herbage. 



They nestle on the ground among the reeds, or on a tuft 

 of dry ground or a decayed tree, forming a very bulky nest of 

 reeds, straws, or similar materials. The eggs are numerous, 

 five or more, light coloured, dotted, spotted, or freckled with 

 darker. 



Only one species occurs in Britain. 



