of the United States. 337 



Young, brownish-olive, beneath whitish. 



Common GaUinule, Gallinula chloropus, Nob. Jim. Orn. 

 Hi. pi. adult. 



Inhabits throughout the year in the southern states only ■ 

 common in Europe, and found with little or no variations in 

 all warm and temperate climates ! A most singular fact, 

 which would lead to the belief of the existence of as many 

 species. Corresponds exactly with my European, and espe- 

 cially Java specimens. 



58. FULICA. 



Fulica, L. Briss. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm.. Vieill. Ranz. 



Bill shorter than the head, stout, nearly straight, conico- 

 convex, compressed, higher than broad at base, tapering, 

 acute at tip ; mandibles equal ; upper covering the margins 

 of the lower, furrowed each side at base, subvaulted, the base 

 running far up, and spreading out into a naked membrane 

 covering the forehead, sometimes furnished with crest-like 

 appendages ; lower mandible navicular : nostrils in the fur- 

 row, medial, lateral, concave, oblong, pervious, half closed 

 by a turgid membrane : tongue compressed, entire. Feet 

 placed far back, moderate ; naked crural space small ; tarsus 

 shorter than the middle toe, compressed, rounded before, 

 somewhat sharp behind; anterior toes very long, slender, 

 nearly divided, edged on both sides by a broad scalloped 

 membrane ; hind toe equal to a phalanx of the middle one, 

 bearing on the ground nearly its whole length, edged on the 

 inner side by an entire membrane : nails short, compressed, 

 curved, very acute. Wings moderate, rounded, concave; 

 first primary equal to the fifth ; second and third longest. 

 Tail short, narrow, of twelve or fourteen feathers. 



Female hardly differing from the male. Young but little 

 dissimilar to the adult. Old birds exhibiting striking differ- 

 ences in the form and color of the frontal disk. Moult twice 



