280 GRALL^E. RALLID.E. 



enter the grassy cover at his feet, he hears almost 

 the next moment at the farthest end of the field, 

 with no indication of its transit, except such as 

 was revealed by a narrow line of motion which 

 shot along the waving surface. 



With respect to the other distinctive characters 

 of the Family, we may mention that the beak is 

 in general short, and greatly compressed, fre- 

 quently running up in a sort of shield upon the 

 forehead ; the tail is excessively short, and nearly 

 hidden by the coverts ; it is usually carried erect. 

 The toes are all on the same level. 



GENUS GALLINULA. (Bniss.) 



In this genus the beak is short, compressed, 

 pointed, high at the base, where it ascends on the 

 forehead in a broad shield ; the nostrils pervious, 

 and pierced in a wide furrow, in the middle of 

 the beak. Wings short, concave, the second or 

 third quill longest; the shoulder armed with a 

 small spine, not projecting. Legs rather short, 

 strong, naked a little above the heel ; feet large ; 

 toes long, and rather slender, divided to the base, 

 bordered with a narrow membrane ; hind toe com- 

 paratively short ; claws compressed, very acute. 

 Plumage soft and thick, but loose in texture. 



In all our lakes, large ponds, and still rivers, 

 particularly such as are fringed with thick brush- 

 wood, 01 coarse weeds and rushes, the Common 

 Gallinuleor Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus, LINN.) 

 is a well-known bird. It is of a dark olive-brown 

 hue on the upper parts, the head, neck, breast, 

 and sides, dark lead-grey, becoming almost white 

 on the belly : the beak and the feet are yellowish- 



