THE RAIL TRIBE 



2217 



the slightest noise or movement excited its suspicions, and in an instant it vanished 



in the most extraordinary manner into some thicket, from which it did not again 



emerge until all apparent cause for alarm was past. Its habits and general manners 



are very similar to those of the moor hen, but it does not dive or swim so much as 



that bird. It is very easily captured with a common horsehair noose. The nest, 



which is very similar to that of the moor hen, is formed of a bundle of rushes 



placed on the border of the stream; eggs, seven in number." In the following 



genera the toes are long, the third toe and claw exceeding the metatarsus in length. 



Passing over the common water hen {Gallinula} and its allies, in which the toes, 



although not lobed like those 



of the coots, have a narrow 



lateral membrane, and the nos- 



trils are oval and situated in a 



distinct nasal depression, we find 



in Southeastern Asia and the 



adjacent islands a large species 



known as the water cock {Galli- 



crex cinerea), distinguished by 



having no lateral membrane on 



the toes. The male has the 



plumage black, the upper parts 



especially, the wing coverts being 



edged with gray, and the scapu- 



lars and lower back with brown, 



while the under tail coverts are 



buff barred with black. The 



female is browner and has the wing coverts gray, while the under parts are 



buff with dusky bars, except the throat and middle of the belly, which are 



white. 



The most striking birds of this group, as regards brilliance of col- 

 > are tlie P ur pl e gallinules (Porphyrio), with their handsome blue 

 and purple plumage, variously shaded with dark green, olive brown, 

 and black. Closely allied to these is Mantell's gallinule (Notomts mantelli}, a na- 

 tive of New Zealand, now nearly, if not quite, extinct, and the white form {N. 

 alba}, which formerly inhabited Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. Finally, we must 

 mention the coots {Fulica), at once recognized by their lobed toes. In habits they 

 resemble both ducks and gallinules, being able not only to swim and dive well, but 

 to thread their way through grass and reeds with ease and swiftness. In rising 

 they flap along the surface of the water, and fly like rails with their legs dangling; 

 and their notes resemble those of the gallinules, but are more harsh and grating. 

 The distribution of the genus is cosmopolitan. 



COMMON COOT. 



ind'coots 



