K.Ml.S. (iALI.lMI.KS. .\\I> COOTS. | :>.-.. 



and .1. iji'innteu* of Central A merit-it, Mexico, the Went Indies, and 

 Fli>riiln. They frequent the larders of wooded streams and swani|w, 

 nuil at limes the upland-. Their flight is short. ami ln-n <>n the wing 

 their legs dandle below them. Like the llcn-ns, they jH-n-h in trees. 

 Their prolonged, melancholy cull has won for them the name "Crying- 

 bird." Their UMial note is a loud, nit her high irnh-rrf-tnc ; the last 

 syllable i- drawn out into it wail, and the effect is most grcwsome. 

 C'ourlans feed to u large i-xtent on land shell.- (Anifiittlnria), and, as 

 I'rof. W. H. Barrows has shown, the tip of the Courlan's hill is some- 

 times turned -lightly to one side, an c\idei.t result of forcing it into 

 the spinil opening of the shell to extract the animal. 



207. Aramus pi^anteus /' " '/'. . I.IUI-KI- .u:i> ; < < ic- 



LAX. (See Kii. 'J4. ' -I-/. ( iUttWV olive-hpiwn, the t'i-iitliers !' the dead and 

 rn-.-k nurr-'wlv, tli"-e nf tlie Inxly l.nuilly, Mrijx'il itli white; win^ and tail 

 more bronzy. //. Similar, but j-uk-r uiul duller. 1.., _'- '>: \V., 13-00; Tar., 

 



Itunijt. t'eiitrul Ainerieu uiul We.t Indies u^rtli ! Il'm (Inmdc Valley 

 and Florida. 



( leaves, twig<s etc., in a biwh or umall tree. A';';/*. f"iir t-. 

 pale burty white, Motehed, stained, and sj-ekled with light einnaiiK'n-brown, 

 8-JO x 1-7". 



This is a locally distributed sj>ccies in Florida. Its general habits 

 are dexTihvd in the remarks on the family Arami-ln. 



FAMILY RAIJJDJE. RAILS, GALUNULES, AND COOTS. 



The one hundred and eighty species contained in this family are 

 distributed throughout the greater part of the world, fifteen species 

 inhabiting North America. Rails and Gallinules are not strictly gre- 

 pirions. but are generally associated through a community of inter- 

 however. are usually found in flocks. Rails inhabit grassy 

 marshes, in which they seek safety by running or hiding, taking to 

 wing when pursued only as a last resort. Their flight is then short 

 and lalx. red, and with dangling legs they soon drop hack into cover. 

 Nerertln-li-ss. they perform extended migrations, traveling hundred- ..f 

 Aithout re-ting, (iallinules live nearthe marshy bordersof Ixxlies 

 of water, while the more aquatic Coots resemble some Ducks in habits, 



KEY TO THE SPECIEB. 



I. Bill over 



I ' '.- below the eye cinnamon -nifoiw, like the bn>ot; flanks black 

 barred with white; UPJHT part* rieh olivL-bn>wn trcakel with black. 



208. KINO KAIU 



B. Check l*-!\v tlie eye gray; flanks frencrally gray or brownish, barred 

 with white ; upper parts generally grayish, streaked with black. 



811. CLAFPSK KAIL and noes. 



