GALLINULA ruficollis, var. 

 Black-bellied Gallinulc, var. 



Generic Character. 



GaUimda. Briss. Cuv. Tern. Lath. FuUca, Rallus. Linn. Crex. 

 Uliger. 



Rostrum capife brciiiis, valde compressum, conicum, rectum, apice 

 compresso, mandibuld inferiore angulatd. Nares sulcata;, mem- 

 brand obtectce ; aperturd viagnd, oblongd, pervid, vix medid. 

 Pedes elongati, grallarii, genibus nudis, digitis gracilibus tribus, 

 halluce mediocri. 



Bill shorter than the head, much compressed, conic, straight, the tips 

 compressed, inferior mandible angulated. Nostrils sulcated, 

 covered by a membrane; aperture large, oblong, pervious, 

 nearly medial. Feet long, wading, knees naked, fore toes 

 three, long, slender, hind toe (or thumb) short. 



Generic type. Rallus porzana. Linn. 



Specific Character. 



Gall, ruficollis var. A? Olivacco-fusca ; certice cinered; pectore, 

 ahdomine, alisque rufis ; crisso, uropygio, cauddque tiigris ; tectri- 

 cibus interioribus rufis, nigro-fasciatis ; pedibus rubris. 



Olive brown; neck cinereous; breast, body, and wings rufous; 

 belly, rump, and tail ■ black ; interior wing covers rufous, 

 banded with black ; legs red. 



Fulica ruficollis. Gmelin, \.p. 700. Turton, 1. p. 423. 



Gallinula ruficollis. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 767. 



Black-bellied Gallinule. Lath. Syn. L p. 253. 



1 HIS is one of the largest water hens found in Brazil, where 

 it is very rare. I am indebted to Dr. Langsdorff for the 

 only specimen vvliich I brought from that country. It differs 

 considerably from the Black-bellied Gallinule of Latham, 

 yet, perhaps, not sufficiently to record it as a distinct 

 species. 



Total length fifteen inches and a half; bill one and a 

 half; the base (in the dead bird) orange, the other half 

 green ; frontlet none ; the crown and nape are grey brown, 

 the sides cinereous, and the throat whitish ; the neck both 

 above and beneath for about two thirds its length is lead- 

 coloured ; it then changes to rufous, which spreads over the 

 breast, body, wing covers, and greater quills; the lower part 

 of the neck above, with the back, scapulars, and lesser quills, 

 brownish olive ; the belly, thighs, tail, and rump black ; 

 the inner wing covers are remotely barred with black ; legs 

 (in the live bird) red. 



Latham describes the Black-bellied G. as seventeen 

 inches long; the bill two inches; the quills greenish brown, 

 with rufous margins ; the fore part of the neck and breast 

 bright rufous; and the flanks with black bands. 



PI. 173. 



