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GALLINULES. 



FOLLOWING the Crakes, the form of the Gallinule* 

 next presents itself. They are birds of larger size, 

 and more aquatic in their habits, swimming with 

 ease, and diving to avoid danger. 



GALLINULA, Latham. Generic characters. Bill 

 short, compressed; culmen broadened into a 

 shield on the forehead ; nasal furrow not con- 

 spicuous ; nostrils pervious and pierced in it ; 

 wings short, concave, second or third quill 

 longest ; carpal joint armed with a spine ; legs 

 rather short, strong, naked above the tarsal 

 joint ; feet large ; toes long and rather slender, 

 cleft to the base, bordered with a narrow mem- 

 brane ; tarsus comparatively short and articu- 

 lated on the same plane. 



Types, G. chloropus. Europe, Asia, Africa, and 

 America. 



Note. Habits aquatic; swim freely; lay nume- 

 rous eggs ; perch on rails or low trees ; fly with 

 comparative difficulty. 



Young. 



