544 



GALLINULA. GALLINULE. 



The Gallinules differ in no very essential respect from the 

 Crakes, as will be seen on comparing two species of these 

 respective genera, or the generic characters here given. They 

 are of moderate size, not exceeding that of a domestic fowl. 

 Their body is slender aud much compressed, the neck of 

 moderate length, the head oblong, compressed, and rather 

 small. 



Bill not exceeding the head in length, rather stout, taper- 

 ing, much compressed ; upper mandible with the dorsal out- 

 line slightly decimate, towards the end convex, the ridge 

 narrow, considerably enlarged at the base, and forming a soft 

 tumid oblong plate, which varies in extent, sometimes extend- 

 ing to the crown of the head, the sides sloping, towards the 

 end erect and convex, the edges direct, the tip somewhat 

 deflected, with a very slight notch, the nasal groove large ; 

 lower mandible with the angle long, and very narrow, the 

 dorsal outline very short and ascending, the sides nearly erect, 

 the edges soft and blunt at the base, sharp and a little in- 

 flected towards the end, the tip narrow and rather sharp. 

 The gape-line nearly straight. 



Both mandibles internally concave, the lower more deeply 

 so. Palate flattish, papillate, as is the nasal slit. Tongue 

 fleshy, oblong, nearly flat above, having a few short papillae 

 behind, the tip thin, rounded, and lacerated. Aperture of 

 glottis smooth, papillate behind. (Esophagus uniform in 

 diameter ; proventricular glands oblong. Stomach large, its 

 muscles of great size, and distinct, its inner coat with very 

 numerous and small ru^se. Intestine disposed in numerous 

 close parallel folds, very long ; the coeca large, cylindrical, 

 with a slender curved tip. 



Eyes rather small, eyelids with the margin bare. Nostrils 



