248 AVES ORDERS OPISTHOCOMIFORMES AND RALLIFORMES. 



being once observed of a length of about 40 yards, with the wind, across a 

 creek, from a high growth on one bank to a lower level on the other. 

 Usually they rise almost with a jump from the branch, seldom in a straight 

 line, but with a marked convex curve to the point where they alight. The 

 flight of the birds, in spite of their great expanse of wings, in relation to the 

 weight of the body, is thus extremely awkward, and the body presents a 

 peculiarly humped appearance. During their longer courses, the wings are 

 rapidly and violently flapped. The apparent awkwardness in placing them- 

 selves when they alight, is chiefly due, I believe, to the smallness of the 

 branches on which they usually settle, and which they are unable firmly to 

 grasp with their long toes, balancing themselves meanwhile by the expanded 

 wings and tail ; but it is also attributable, I think, though to a much less 

 degree, to a certain weakness in their legs even though they are thick and 

 apparently strong-looking since when they alight on a thick limb, a certain 

 amount of instability is still manifest. 



" This weakness of limbs seems to be still more evidenced by the method 

 of perching characteristic of the birds. At any time during the heat of the 

 day they will be found resting on the branches, two or more together, the 

 body directly applied to the wood, and supported on the bare, thickened, 

 and hardened patch of skin which covers the flattened and broadened surface 

 of the posterior determination of the carina sterni." 



From the game-like rail, or rail-like Game-Bird Opisthocomus, we now pass 



to the true rails. Only one family can be admitted, which bears the name 



of Rallidce. At first sight it would seem more natural to 



The Rails. divide the rails into three families true rails (Rallidcv), 

 Order water-hens (Gallinulidce), and coots (Fulicidce) ; but after a 



Ralliformes. prolonged study of the family, we have come to the conclusion 

 that there is no separation to be drawn between these appar- 

 ently natural groups, and the most that can be done is to recognise two sub- 

 families, rails and water-hens (Rallince), and coots (Fulicincn\ the latter having 

 lobate webs on the toes like the grebes. 



That the rails are birds of an ancient origin is undoubted. Their feeble 

 powers of flight are compensated for by their swiftness of foot and power of 

 concealment, and at the present day there are many flightless rails, de- 

 scendants of an ancient stock. At the same time there are species, like our 

 corn-crake (Crex crex\ which are capable of long migrations, as are also others 

 of the crakes ; but, as a rule, the rails are stay-at-home birds, and do not 

 care for long journeys across the seas. With the exception of the blue water- 

 hens (Porphyrio), they are birds of rather sombre coloration. 



Numerous fossil species of rails have been described from the Miocene and 

 Eocene formations, and in America extinct forms (Tdmatornis) have been 

 found in the Cretaceous. 



Fifty-three genera of rails have been admitted by me in the twenty-third 

 volume of the " Catalogue of Birds," and the following are the most remark- 

 able, and call for special notice. The Rallidce may be divided into three 

 great groups true rails (Rallincti), crakes (Crecwct), and coots (Fulicittce). 

 As before mentioned, on account of their lobed toes, the coots may be even 

 further separated from the rails and crakes. 



In the rails the bill is long and slender, so as to exceed in length the 

 middle toe and claw. The crakes have a shorter and stouter bill. The 

 true rails may be divided into two groups, water-rails and wood-rails. Of 

 the former four genera are recognised, and our English water-rail is the 



