RAILS. 277 



eggs, resembling those of a goose. The stomach, 

 notwithstanding its vegetable food, is but slightly 

 muscular : the windpipe (trachea) has an abrupt 

 bony box or enlargement about the middle, some- 

 what like that of the male Velvet Pochard (Oide- 

 mia fuse a). The loud and piercing character of 

 its voice is doubtless connected with this remark- 

 able structure. 



FAMILY V. RALLID.E. 



(Rails.) 



In the very valuable and elaborate observations 

 of the late Mr. Vigors on the affinities of animals, 

 he remarks that the Rallidce are separated from 

 the other Families of their Order, and united 

 among themselves, by the shape of their body, 

 which is compressed and flattened on the sides, 

 in consequence of the narrowness of their sternum. 

 " If we were allowed," continues this acute na- 

 turalist, "to draw an inference from the ana- 

 logical construction of other bodies, which move 

 with the greater facility through the water in 

 proportion as they assume this compressed and 

 keel-like form, we might almost conclude that 

 this structure, peculiar to the birds of the pre- 

 sent Family, facilitates their progress through 

 that element, and is intended to counterbalance 

 the deficiency in the formation of the foot, which 

 separates them from the truer and more perfectly 



formed water-birds It is certain that the 



greater portion of these birds are excellent swim- 

 mers ; and in such habits, as well as in the short- 

 ness of their tarsi, which is equally conducive to 



