516 PARRINiE. 



Crex and Gallinula with the Perdicinse and Phasianinse, 

 and by Fulica with the Colymbinse. 



In Britain there are no representatives of the genera 

 Parra and Porphyrio, which belong especially to warm and 

 temperate climates. 



SYNOPSIS OF TEE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. RALLUS. RAIL. 



Bill long, slender, tapering, very slightly arched, much 

 compressed ; upper mandible with the ridge a little flat- 

 tened, rounded but not enlarged at the base, the edges in- 

 flected near the tip, the nasal groove extending to two-thirds 

 of its length. Nostrils sub-basal, linear. Toes extremely 

 compressed, not margined. 



1. Rallus aquaticus. Water Rail. Upper parts oliva- 

 ceous, streaked with dusky ; fore-neck and breast purplish- 

 grey ; sides and abdomen barred with black and white. 



GENUS II. CREX. CRAKE. 



Bill not longer than the head, rather stout, tapering, 

 much compressed ; upper mandible with the ridge narrow, 

 very slightly enlarged and angular at the commencement, 

 the edges slightly inclinate, the nasal groove large. Nostrils 

 linear-oblong, medial, sub-marginal. Toes much compressed, 

 not margined. 



1. Crex pratensis. Corn Crake. Yellowish -brown, 

 streaked with dusky above, paler beneath, the sides barred 

 with light red and whitish, the wings light red. 



2. Crex Porzana. Spotted Crake. Olive-brown, with 

 dusky streaks and white spots above ; greyish-brown, spotted 

 with Avhite beneath ; the wings olive-brown. 



3. Crex Baillonii. Baillon's Crake. Yellowish-brown, 

 spotted with white, and undulated with black above ; sides 

 and abdomen barred with black and white. 



