of the United States. 333 



pressed, entire, acute, fibrous at tip. Forehead feathered. 

 Body very compressed. Naked space on the tibia small ; 

 tarsus subequal to the middle toe, somewhat compressed ; 

 toes entirely divided; decurrent membrane very narrow; hind 

 toe equal to a phalanx of the middle one, inserted a little 

 higher than the others : nails short, compressed, curved, 

 acute. First primary shorter than the fifth; second, third and 

 fourth longest. Tail very short, feathers flaccid, not appear- 

 ing beyond the coverts. 



Female generally similar to the male. Young differing 

 much from the adult. Moult twice in the year. 



Timid: shy: solitary. Most of the species live and breed in 

 marshes, among weeds, thickets, preferring the neighbourhood 

 of stagnant waters, where the grass is very high ; not entering 

 much in the water: swim but rarely, and never from choice. 

 Avoid above all, sands and exposed shores. Notwithstand- 

 ing their apparently limited flight, undertake great periodical 

 journeys. Walk with agility and grace, raising their head, 

 elevating their feet, and jerking their tail. Alight sometimes 

 on low branches, never on trees, unless to escape a close 

 chase. Lives nocturnal : hide closely during day time in the 

 thickest grasses, and seek their food in the morning and even- 

 ing, or by moonlight. 



Inhabit throughout the world. Closely' related to Fulica, 

 Gallinula, but especially Porphyrio ; distinguished from all 

 by their feathered front. 



SUBGENUS I. RALLUS. 



Rallus, F>7-iss. Lath. III. Temm. Ranz. 



Bill longer than the head, slender, straight, subequal 

 throughout, compressed at base, cylindrical and obtuse at 

 the point; upper mandible furrowed beyond the middle; 

 nostrils more basal, linear. 



270. Rallus crepitans, Gm. Black, skirted with brown, be- 

 neath rufous ; throat white : wing coverts chesnut : first 



Vol. II. 42 



