136 BRITISH BIRDS. 



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THIS genus, of which there is but one European 

 species, is chiefly distinguished by the length of 

 the bill, which exceeds considerably that of the 

 head. It is besides slender, straight, or but slightly 

 bent, compressed towards the base, cylindrical at 

 the point; the upper mandible furrowed; nostrils 

 lateral; legs and feet long, very little bare above 

 the knee; three toes forward, and divided, and one 

 behind, articulated with the tarsus. 



Though there be several points of difference 

 between this genus and that of the Gallinules, with 

 which it has been commonly arranged, yet the 

 transition from the one to the other is scarcely 

 perceptible, by means of a great number of exotic 

 species; the only obvious and assignable distinc- 

 tion being the length of the bill compared with that 

 of the head. The sexes do not differ, but the 

 young differ considerably from the old birds; the 

 moult takes place in autumn, but it produces no 

 change of colours. 



