AVES. 71 



84. CREX Bill shorter than the head, somewhat 



thick, straight, convex above, higher than broad at the 

 base, attenuated and compressed at the tip ; upper man- 

 dible a little deflected ; gonys of the lower mandible ascend- 

 ing to meet it : nostrils lateral, medial, longitudinally cleft, 

 half closed by the membrane of the nasal channel : anterior 

 toes long, entirely divided : wings short ; first quill shorter 

 than the second and third, which are longest. 



85. GALLINULA. Bill shorter than the head, 

 straight, robust, convex above, much compressed ; upper 

 mandible expanding at the base on the forehead, forming a 

 naked disk : nostrils lateral, medial, oblong-linear : anterior 

 toes very long, divided to their origin, bordered by a nar- 

 row, entire membrane : wings with the second and third 

 quills longest. 



86. FULICA Bill shorter than the head, straight, 



robust, somewhat convex above, compressed, thick at the 

 base : a naked disk on the forehead : nostrils lateral, medial, 

 longitudinally cleft : anterior toes very long, united at the 

 base, bordered by a scalloped membrane : wings moderate ; 

 second and third quills longest. 



ORDER V. NATATORES. 



Bill various: legs short, often placed far behind, 

 adapted for swimming: lower part of the tibia 

 more or less naked: tarsi compressed: toes gene- 

 rally four ; the three anterior ones palmated, semi- 

 palmated. or fissopalmated ; or all four united : 

 hind toe sometimes wanting. 



I. ANATIDJL Bill stout, straight, covered with 

 a thin membranous skin; the tomia armed with 

 lamella, or with small denticulations ; more or 



