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Distrihition. — South China, resident 

 throughout its range. Common to the 

 mountainous regions of Fokien and 

 Chekiang Provinces. It is frequently 

 taken on Mohkanshan. 



Phasiauus reevesii Gray, Reeves' 

 Pheasant has also been taken in the 

 Yangtse Valley and Pucrasia joretiana 

 Courtois has been taken in Anhwei 

 Province. 



ORDER, GROIFORMES, CRANE-LIKE BIRDS. 



The characteristics of this order are: 

 toes four ; middle toe without a comb 

 and generally not webbed ; hind toe 

 generally small and higher than the 

 front ones, or, if on the same level, as 

 in the Gallinules, the bill is then 

 comparatively short stout, and the 

 forehead has a bare frontal shield ; lores 

 feathered, or in the Cranes with hair- 

 like bristles. 



Family, Rallidae, Rails, Coots, Gallinules. 



This family is composed of medium 

 sized wading or swimming birds distin- 

 guished by ext^me narrowness, or 

 compression of the body. They have 

 long necks, small heads, short bills, and 

 short rounded concave wings. The 

 legs are long in proportion to the size 

 of the bird, and, like the feet, quite 

 strong. 



Rails and Gallinules are not strictly 

 gregarious, but are usually associated 

 through a community of interest, while 

 Coots are as a rule found in flocks. 

 Rails inhabit grassy marshes, in which 

 they seek safety by running or hiding, 

 taking to wing only as a last resort. 

 Their flight is then short and labored, 

 and with dangling legs they soon 



