264 VERTEBRATES I BIRDS. 



The Genus Fulica Coots has the bill straight, com- 

 pressed, and extending into the feathers of the forehead, 

 forming a wide and projecting frontal plate; and the toes 

 margined with semicircular lobes. 



. The Coot, F. amcricana, Gm., of temperate North Amer- 

 ica, is fourteen inches long, and the wing seven inches. 



The Genus Gallinula Gallinules is distinguished 

 from Fulica by the absence of lobes on the toes. 



The Florida Gallinule, G. galeata, Bonap., of the warmer 

 parts of America, is twelve and a half inches long ; the 

 frontal plate large, terminating square on the top of the 

 head ; the head, neck, and under parts dark bluish-cine- 

 reous ; upper parts brownish olive. The frontal plate and 

 bill are bright red tipped with yellow. 



Fig I41 The Purple Gallinule, 



G. martinica, Lath., of 

 the Southern States and 

 northward, is twelve and 

 a half inches long, and 

 the wing seven inches ; 

 head and under parts 

 bluish purple ; lower 

 tail-coverts white ; up- 

 per parts dark olive green ; bill bright red tipped with 

 yellow ; frontal plate blue, and legs yellow. 



SUB-SECTION VII. 



THE ORDER OF NATATORES, OR SWIMMERS. 



THE Order of Natatores comprises birds which are 

 especially fitted for aquatic life. Their plumage is thick 

 and firm, toes webbed to the claws, tibiae feathered to near 

 the tarsal joint, the hind toe usually elevated, and rather 

 small. They all swim well, and most of them dive freely. 

 This group may be divided into two Sub-Orders, An- 



