[Case 22. } 
[Case 21.] 
4.0 BIRD GALLERY. 
food and for the sake of its oil. Numerous forms allied to this genus 
have already become extinct, such as Aphanapteryxr from Mauritius 
and Leguatia gigantea from Rodriguez, which is described as standing 
six feet in height and having a body as large as that of a Goose. 
Other genera, such as the Purple Gallinules (Porphyriola, Porphyrio 
(329-332) and Nofornis), are remarkable for the beauty of their plumage, 
the great size of their bill and frontal shield, and the length of their 
toes. The celebrated “ Moho” (Notornis mantelli), one of the most 
interesting of the Purple Gallinules, is all but extinct. It is unable to 
fly, and has now entirely disappeared from the North Island of New 
Zealand, but in the South Island three have been obtained during the 
past century, one as recently as 1881, and a few may still exist in remote 
parts of the country. Strangely enough the species was first described 
by Owen from an imperfect fossil skull, and was at that time believed to 
be extinct. Shortly after, however, a living specimen was captured, to 
be followed by the others already referred to. Allen’s Purple Gallinule 
(P. allent) (829 a) has occurred once at Yarmouth. ‘The common British 
Moorhen or Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus) (821) is nearly related to 
the Purple Gallinules, though its colouring is much less brilliant. The 
Coots (Fuliea), of which the common Coot (F. atra) (884) is the best 
known, may be recognised from the rest of the family by the broad lobes 
to the toes, their feet bearing a strong resemblance to those of the 
Grebes. They are all good swimmers, spending the greater part of 
their life on the water, and the species are distributed over most of the 
world, though the majority belong to the South American region. 
Family Il. Hevtorniruip%. Frnroors. 
This family is represented by certain aberrant types undoubtedly 
allied to the Rails, in spite of their curiously Grebe-like form. 
Altogether three genera are recognised, two of which belong to the Old 
World and the third is confined to South America. This latter genus 
includes a single species of Finfoot (Heliornis fulica) (881).  Peters’s 
Finfoot (Podica petersi) (886) represents the Old World forms. 
Order VI. PODICIPEDIFORMES. 
Family PopicirepIpx. Gresus. 
The birds which constitute this Order are an extremely interesting 
group on account of the profound modifications which the skeleton has 
undergone in adaptation to the requirements of a purely aquatic life. 
The bones of the hip-girdle have become elongated and laterally com- 
pressed to aremarkable degree. The thigh-bone is extremely abbreviated, 
so that the legs are set very far back near the hinder end of the body, a 
position which ensures the maximum of power when swimming, but 
which leaves the bird almost helpless on land The front toes are 
