70 AVES. 



and pointed : nostrils basal, oblong-linear, . prominent, sur- 

 rounded by a membrane : tarsi somewhat elongated, and 

 compressed : anterior toes rather long, bordered by narrow 

 lobated membranes : wings with the first quill longest. 



81. PHALAROPUS. Bill as long as the head, 

 straight, strong, broad and depressed at the base, a little 

 compressed at the extremity ; upper mandible inclining over 

 the lower, with the nasal channel extending the whole 

 length : tongue short, broad, and rounded at the tip : nos- 

 trils basal, oval, prominent, surrounded by a membrane : 

 tarsi short and strong, scarcely compressed : anterior toes 

 rather short, united as far as the first joint ; bordered 

 beyond with broad and deeply scalloped membranes : wings 

 with the first and second quills longest. 



V. RALLID^E.. Sill short or moderate, rarely 

 elongated; rather strong: body generally com- 

 pressed : legs moderate : toes Jour ; anterior 

 ones elongated, entirely divided, or united by 

 a membrane at the base, sometimes pinnated. 



82. GLAREOLA. Bill short, convex, compressed 

 towards the tip ; the upper mandible curved for half its 

 length : nostrils basal, lateral, obliquely cleft : a small part 

 of the tibia naked : tarsi moderate, slender : outer and 

 middle toes connected by a short membrane ; hind toe 

 small, and elevated : claws long, and pointed : wings very 

 long ; first quill considerably the longest. 



83. RALLUS Bill longer than the head, rather 



slender, very slightly arched, compressed at the base, some- 

 what cylindrical at the tip ; upper mandible channelled for 

 two-thirds of its length : nostrils submedial, oblong-linear, 

 placed in the groove, partly covered by a membrane lower : 

 part of the tibia naked : toes long, and slender ; anterior 

 ones entirely divided : wings short, rounded ; first quill 

 shorter than the two next, which are longest : bastard 

 winglet with a short spur. 



