42 LOBIPEDID.E. 



by some authors considered distinct, and called F. aterrhna; 

 but we have only one species. The young birds of the year 

 are smaller than the parents, the naked frontal patch is also 

 smaller, and the under parts of the plumage are of a lighter 

 grey. Young chicks on emerging from the egg-shell are 

 covered with black down, with some lighter-coloured down 

 hanging loosely about them. 



Varieties entirely white, and others only partially white, 

 have been seen both in Norfolk and Lincolnshire. 



The decidedly aquatic habits, Avith the attendant pecu- 

 liarity of the feet of the remaining members of this order of 

 birds, entitle them to some distinction from the Gallinules, as 

 more nearly approaching the true swimmers, Natatores. 



The vignette represents the structure of the foot, in which 

 the dilatations of the membranes correspond in situation with 

 the bones of the toes, namely, one lobe on each side each of 

 the phalanges ; of which there are two to the inner toe, three 

 to the middle toe, and four to the outer toe. 



