INTRODUCTION. XXXI 



Order PULICARIJE. 



Family RALLID^E. 



Crex, Bc'c/istt'in.—T^Wl shorter than the head, thick at the base, compressed ; 

 the cuhnen gradually deflecting from the forehead to the point of the bill ; 

 lateral furrow of the upper mandible broad, and occupying more than half its 

 length ; angle of the under mandible bending upwards ; both mandibles of 

 an equal length. Nostrils concave, lateral, linear, ovoid, pierced in a mem- 

 brane occupying the furrow in the middle of the bill. Wings armed with a 

 spine, and having the second and third quills the longest. Legs strong, of 

 moderate length, with the lower part of the tibia naked. Feet with three 

 anterior toes, long, slender, and cleft to their base without any lateral 

 membrane ; the hind toe resting almost wholly on the ground ; claws arcuate, 

 compressed and sharp (p. 493). 



PORZANA, Vicillot. — Bill shorter than the head, slightly higher than broad at the 

 base, compressed, tapering towards the point. Nostrils linear and oblong, the 

 nasal groove reaching to the middle of the bill. Wings shorter than in Crex ; 

 the second quill the longest. Tail short, rounded, the feathers narrow, weak, 

 and slightly curved. Tibire bare on the lower part ; tarsi short, scutellate 

 in front ; toes long and slender ; claws long, curved, and acutely tapering 

 (P- 495)- 



Rallus, Brissoii. — Bill longer than the head, slender, slightly decurved, com- 

 pressed at the base, cylindrical at the point ; upper mandible grooved at 

 the sides. Nostrils pierced longitudinally in the lateral groove, partly 

 covered by a membrane. Wings moderate, rounded ; the first quill much 

 shorter than the second, the third and fourth the longest. Legs long and 

 robust, with a small naked space above the tarsal joint ; the three anterior 

 toes divided to their origin, the hind toe articulated upon the tarsus (p. 501). 



Gallin'ULA, Brisson. — Bill thick at the base, compressed, slightly swollen 

 towards the tip, subconic, as short as the head. Upper mandible convex, 

 with the culmen extended and dilated, forming a naked, oblong frontal plate 

 or shield ; lateral furrow wide ; mandibles of nearly equal length ; angle of 

 the lower one ascending. Nostrils lateral, pervious, pierced in the mem- 

 brane of the furrow in the middle of the bill, longitudinal and linear. 

 Wings short, concave, rounded ; armed with a small, sharp, recumbent spine. 

 Legs long, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint, scutellated in 

 front, reticulated behind. Toes, three before and one behind, long, divided 

 and bordered through their whole length by a narrow entire membrane 

 (P- 503). 



FuLiCA, Brisson. — Bill and frontal plate much as in Galliimla. Wings of 

 moderate size ; the first quill shorter than the second or third, which are 

 the longest in the wing. Tail short. Legs rather long, naked above the 

 tarsal joint ; three toes in front, one behind ; all the toes long, united at 

 the base, and furnished laterally with extensions of the membranes, which 

 form round lobes (p. 505). 



