110 GALLINULIN^E. RALLUS. 



GENUS CIX. RALLUS. RAIL. 



Birds of small or moderate size, having the body much 

 compressed ; the neck rather long and slender ; the head 

 small, oblong, much compressed. Bill longer than the head, 

 slender, much compressed, high at the base, very slightly 

 arcuate ; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly decli- 

 nate at the base, straight in the middle, a little decimate 

 toward the end, the ridge convex, having a slightly enlarged 

 angular commencement, the sides nearly erect, the edges 

 sharp, hard, and slightly inflected ; lower mandible with the 

 angle extremely long and narrow, the dorsal line nearly 

 straight, the edges slightly inflected, the tip narrow, but 

 obtuse ; the gape-line almost straight. Mouth very narrow ; 

 tongue very long, slender, trigonal, emarginate and papillate 

 at the base, canaliculate above, tapering to a bristly point ; 

 oesophagus narrow ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach round- 

 ish, with the lateral muscles very prominent, the epithelium 

 dense, rugous, with oblong flat grinding plates ; intestine of 

 moderate length arid width ; coeca long, very narrow for half 

 their length, gradually enlarged and oblong ; cloaca globu- 

 lar. Eyes small, eyelids feathered. Nostrils sub-basal, 

 linear, pervious. Aperture of ear small. Feet large ; tibia 

 bare for a short space ; tarsus of moderate length, com- 

 pressed, anteriorly covered with broad, curved scutella ; toes 

 very long, slender, much compressed ; the first proportion- 

 ally small, the second considerably shorter than the fourth, 

 all scutellate ; claws long, slender, tapering, slightly arched, 

 much compressed, acute. Plumage blended ; feathers of the 

 fore-head with strong bristle -points, of the body oblong and 

 broadly rounded ; wings short, concave, rounded, of twenty- 

 two quills ; the first much shorter than the second, which is 

 about the same length as the third ; tail extremely short, 

 arched, much rounded, of twelve very weak feathers. 



The Rails inhabit the reedy and grassy margins of lakes 

 and rivers, where they habitually conceal themselves ; feed 

 on worms, mollusca, small Crustacea, insects, seeds of gra- 

 minese and other plants ; are capable of swimming, and even 

 of diving ; and in form and habits make some approxima- 



