aia 
RALLID/, RAILS, ETC.—GEN. 243, 244, 245. : 275 
243, Genus GALLINULA Brisson. 
Florida Gallinule. 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, and stripes on the flanks, white ; 
bill, frontal plate, and ring round tibi, red, the former tipped with yellow ; 
tarsiand toes greenish. 12-15 long; wing 63-74; tail 3-34; gape of bill 
about 14; tarsus about 2. S. Atlantic and Gulf states, N. sometimes to 
Massachusetts. Bonap., Am. Orn. iv, 128, pl. 27, f. 1; Nurr., ii, 223; 
Aup., v, 132, pl. 304; Cass. in Bp., 752. . (CHLOROPUS var?) GALEATA. 
244, Genus PORPHYRIO Temminck. 
Purple Gallinule. Head, neck and under parts beautiful purplish-blue, 
blackening on the belly, the crissum white; above, olivaceous-green, the 
cervix and wing coverts tinted with blue; frontal shield blue; bill red, 
tipped with yellow; legs yellowish. Young with the head, neck and lower 
back brownish, the under parts mostly white, mixed with ochrey. 10-12; 
wing 63-7; tail 24-3; bill from gape about 14; tarsus about 24; middle 
toe and claw about 3. §S. Atlantic and Gulf States, N. casually to New 
England (Maine, Boarpman, Am. Nat. iii, 498). Wus., ix, 69, pl. 73; 
f. 2; Nurvr., ii, 221; Aup., v, 128, pl. 303; Cass. in Bp., 753. MaRTINICA. 
Subfamily FULICINE. Coots. 
Bill and frontal plate much as in the gallinules; body 
depressed, the under plumage thick and duck-like, to resist 
water; feet highly natatorial; tarsus shorter than middle 
toe ; toes, including the hinder, Jobate, being furnished with \ 
large semicircular membranous flaps. The coots are emi- 
nently aquatic birds, swimming with ease, by means of their 
lobate feet, like phalaropes and grebes. There are about 
ten species, of both hemispheres, all referable to the 
245. Genus FULICA Linneus. 
Coot. Dark slate, paler or grayish below, black- 
ening on the head and neck, tinged with olive on the 
back ; crissum, whole edge of wing and tips of second- 
aries, white; bill white or flesh color, marked with pre. 180. Frontal plate of a 
reddish-black near the end; feet dull olivaceous ; See OR, 
young similar, paler and duller. About 14; wing 7-8; tail 2; bill from 
the gape 14-14; tarsus about 2; middle toe and claw about 3. Temperate 
eeeam, abundant. . WiLs., ix, 61, pl. 73, f.1; Nurt., ii, 229; Aup., v, 
PMR OASS. In Ds, Wal. ~ . « 2. » + . « . AMERICANA. 
