112 GALLINULIN^E. CREX. 



ing to beyond the middle ; lower mandible with the angle 

 long and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending, the edges 

 slightly inflected, the tip narrow, but obtuse ; the gape-line 

 straight. Mouth very narrow ; tongue short, or of moderate 

 length, slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, flat 

 above, with the point narrow but rounded ; oesophagus nar- 

 row ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach roundish, with the 

 lateral muscles very large, the epithelium dense, rugous, 

 with oblong flat grinding surfaces ; intestine of moderate 

 length and width ; coeca long, narrow. Eyes small ; eye- 

 lids feathered. Nostrils sub-basal, linear, pervious. Aper- 

 ture of ear small. Feet large ; tibia bare for a short space ; 

 tarsus rather long or moderate, compressed, anteriorly co- 

 vered with broad, curved scutella ; toes long, slender, much 

 compressed ; the first proportionally very small, the second 

 a little shorter than the fourth, all scutellate ; claws rather 

 long, slender, tapering, slightly arched, much compressed, 

 acute. Plumage blended, firm or stiff; feathers of the fore- 

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

 broadly rounded ; wings short or moderate, concave, round- 

 ed, of twenty-four quills ; the first much shorter than the 

 second, which is longest, or equal to the third ; tail ex- 

 tremely short, arched, much rounded, of twelve very weak 

 feathers. 



These birds differ from the Rails chiefly in having the bill 

 shorter and stouter, and the body somewhat fuller. Ts T o two 

 species agree precisely in the form of the bill. The tarsi and 

 toes also vary considerably in length. On some slight dif- 

 ferences of this nature authors have founded several genera ; 

 but on the same principle, every species must make a genus. 

 As defined above, the genus is easily recognised in every 

 specific form. The Gallinules inhabit meadows, corn-fields, 

 marshes, and, in general, places covered with a rank growth 

 of gramineae and cyperaceae. They run with great speed, 

 but fly in a heavy manner ; feed on insects, worms, mollus- 

 ca, and seeds. Most of them swim and dive with ease ; but 

 some, and especially our most common species, confine them- 

 selves to dry places. The nest is large, and the eggs nu- 

 merous, oval or oblong, light coloured, and spotted. The 

 young are at first covered with black down. 



