GRALLATORES. RALLID^. 169 



FAMILY IV. RALLID^l. 



FROM the typical family of the Scolopatidce we now enter 

 upon that of the Rallidce, which forms the fourth natural 

 division of the Order, standing as an aberrant group. The 

 various members composing it, and which answer to the 

 Macrodactyles of CUVIER, are distinguished from the birds 

 of the preceding family, by having the bill considerably 

 stronger, the tarsi shorter, and the hind toe of greater length. 

 They are also separated from all the other families of the 

 order, and more united together, by the particular shape of 

 the body, which, in the typical or representative species, is 

 much compressed on the sides, arising from the structure of 

 the breast-bone, it being found, on dissection, remarkably 

 narrow. In their habits they are more decidedly aquatic 

 than the other families, and the greater part of them inhabit 

 the interior lakes and marshes of their respective countries ; 

 many of them swim habitually and with facility, in this re- 

 spect shewing their connexion with the true Natatores ; to 

 which order, by means of the Coot, they directly lead the 

 way. The feet of most of the species are divided and with- 

 out webs, but the toes and claws of many of them are long, 

 and cover a large disk when expanded ; which formation (as 

 well as the shape of the body), not only aids them in swim- 

 ming, but is of great assistance to them in traversing the sur- 

 face of the water, when covered with aquatic plants and 

 grasses. In GaUinula, whose habits are decidedly aquatic, 

 the toes are bordered along their sides with a narrow web, 

 being an extension, as it were, of the membranous sole of the 

 foot ; and the same is observable, perhaps to a greater de- 

 gree, in the nearly allied genus Porphyrio. This, in the 

 genus Fulica (placed still nearer to the farther extremity of 

 the family, and serving as a link between it and the Cha- 

 radriadce, and the Order Natatores), become still more ex- 



