liALLIDJE — GALLINULIN^ : GALLINULES. 



675 



683. C. praten'sis. (Lat. pratensis, of fields.) European Land Rail. Corn Crake. AdiUt 

 S ? • t'pper parts blackish-bruwn, variegateil with browuish-yellow, the wing-coverts both 

 above aud below rusty-reddish, the quills rufous-browu. Below, bluish-gray of varying 

 intensity, more ashy-whitish on throat and belly, the Hanks aud crissuni barred with reddish- 

 brown. Line over eye like under parts ; a dark brown stripe thn)Ugh eye. Bill and eyes 

 brown; legs pale. Length about 10.50; wing 5.50-6.00; tail 2.00; bill 0.80-1.00; tarsus 

 L60. Europe; casually in Greenland ; accidental in New Jersey and Bermudas. (Wedderb., 

 Zool., 1S49, p. 2591; Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad., vii, 1855, p. 2G5 ; Reinh., Ibis, 1861, p. 11; 

 Bd., Am. Journ. Sci., xli, 1866, p. 339 ; Freke, Zool., v, 1881, p. 374.) 



63. Subfamily CALLINULIN/E: Callinules. 



Fcjrehead shielded by a broad, bare, homy 

 plate, a prolongation and expansion of the culmen. 

 Bill otherwise much as in the shorter-billed rails, 

 like Porzana ; general form much the same, 

 though the body is not so compressed ; toes long, 

 simple, or slightly margined. The Gallinules 

 are somewhat Rail-like birds, of similar habits, 

 inhabiting marshes ; they agree M'ith the Coots 

 in possessing a fi-ontal shield, but the feet are 

 not lobate, nor is the body depressed, and the 

 species swim no better than RaUs. Some are of 

 the richest and most elegant coloration. There 

 are about 30 species of various parts of the 

 Fig. 467. -European Gallinule, GaUinuhi chlo- World, constituting several genera, two of which, 

 oropus. (From Dixon.) vei-y distinct from each other, occur iu N. Am. 



GrALLl'NUIiA. (J^at. gallimila,dimm. of ffallina, a. heu. Fig. 467.) Gallinules. Water 

 Hens. Mud Hens. Bill not longer than head, stout at base, tapering, couipressed, the culmen 

 running directly np on the forehead and expanding into a frontal plate of different shape in 

 different species. Nostrils near middle of bill, linear. Feet large and stout; tibia3 naked 

 below ; tarsus moderately compressed, scutellate ; toes very long, the outer longer than the 

 inner, with an evident though slight marginal membrane ; claws long, slender, little curved, 

 acute. Wings short and rounded, but ample. Tail very short, of 12 weak feathers, Avith 

 long ample under coverts, as in Rails. Plumage not rich blue, etc. Several species of 

 various countries. 



G. galea'ta. (Lat. galeata, helmeted.) Common Gallixule. Florida Gallinule. 

 Red-billed Mud-hen. Adult $ 9 : Head, neck, and under parts, grayish-black, darkest 

 on the former, paler or whitening on the belly. Back brownish-olive. Wings and tail dusky ; 

 crissum, edge of wing, outer web of first primary, and stripes on the fianks, white. Bill, 

 frontal plate, and ring round tibiae, red, tin; former tipped with yellow; tarsi and toes 

 greenish, the joints bluish ; eyes red or brown. Young : Similar, but lacking the l)ri<;]it 

 colors of the bill and legs, the former simply greenish ; under parts extensively wliitisli. 

 Length 12.00-14.00; extent 20.00-22.00; wing 6.50-7.50; tail 3.00; gape of bill about 

 1.50; tarsus about 2.00. S. Atlantic and Gulf States, N. sometimes to New England, to 

 Canada West, Minnesota, Kansas, etc., and on the Pacific side to San Francisco ; W. I., 

 C. Am., and mudi of S. Am. Resident in the Southern States, and abundant coastwise. 

 Nidification exactly that of the coot (beyond). Eggs 10-12-14, 1.75 X 1-25. 

 lONOR'NIS. (Gr. lov, ion, a violet ; opvif , ornis, a bird ; alluding to the rich blue color.) 

 Sultan Gallinules. Hyacinths. General character of GalUnula ; bill very stout and 



