668 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS — ALECTORIDES — GBUIFOEMES 



the digestive system is as in the Rails ; the coeca are two, situate close together. Carotids two; 

 syringial muscles one pair; femoro-caudal absent. 

 269. A'RA3IUS. (Etym. igu(jt.) CouKLANS. Bill twice as long as the head, slender but strong, 

 compressed, grooved for about half its length, contracted opposite the nostrils, the terminal 

 portion enlarged and decurved. Nostrils long, hnear, pervious. Head completely feathered 

 to the bill; tibi* half bare; tarsus scutellate anteriorly, as long as the bill, longer than middle 



671. 



Fig. 463. — Parrajacana, J nat. size. (From Brebm.l 



toe; toes cleft, the hinder short, elevated, the outer longer than inner; mngs short, rounded, 

 with falcate 1st primary, the inner quUls folding over the primaries when closed; tail short, 

 of 12 broad feathers. 



A. pic'tus. (Lat. pictus, painted, spotted.) Scolopaceous Couelan. Crying-bird. 

 Carau. Limpkix. Chocolate-brown mth a slight olivaceous or other gloss, paler on the 

 face, chin, and throat, most of the plumage sharply streaked with white. Length 24.00-28.00; 

 extent 40.00-44.00; mng 12.00-14.00; tail 6.00-7.00; bill and tarsus, each, about 5.00. 

 Florida, and West Indies. 



