GALLINTJLIN.^. 7l3 



Sub-fam. GALLINULINiE. 



These birds are generally of larger size and stouter make than 

 the Eails, and the base of the bill, (in many), is expanded into a 

 plate occupying more or less of the forehead ; the toes are bor- 

 dered bv a narrow web, which in one genus expands into large 

 scolloped lobes ; they are more aquatic than the Eails, mostly 

 living in the immediate vicinity of water, and many swimming 

 and diving with ease. They feed chiefly on vegetable matter, 

 seeds, &c. 



The first genus is peculiar to the warmer regions of the world. 



Gen. Porphyrio, Brisson. 



Char. — Bill very strong, thick, conic, compressed, base prolong- 

 ed into a thick horny casque covering the forehead and the top of 

 the head ; upper mandible very thick, curving from the base, 

 pointed; lower mandible less thick; gonys ascending ; gape gently 

 curving ; nares apert, oval, in the middle of the bill ; wings 

 moderate, ample, the 3rd and 4th quills the longest; tail short, 

 tarsus lengthened, strong ; toes very long, free, bordered by a 

 narrow web ; claws long, very slightly curved. 



The stomach is a strong, tendinous gizzard ; the intestines and 

 cseca are long. The tongue is thick and somwhat fleshy, horny at 

 the tip and brushed. 



This genus has of late been sub-divided ; the Indian species is 

 the type of Ccesariornis of Reichenbach. ^ jL~* 



902. Porphyrio poliocephalus, Latham. 



Jerdon, Cat. 328 — Blyth, Cat. 1657 — Sykes, Cat, 204 — 

 Keim, Kaima, Kalim, and Kharim, H. — Ke?n, Beng. — Nila bola- 

 kodi, Tel. 



The Purple Coot. 



Descr. — .Lores, round the eyes, cheeks, hind head and nape, 

 purple tinged with grey on the sides, and gradually passing 

 into the purer purple of the hind neclc, back, and upper tail- 

 coverts; wing-coverts pale blue; the quills dull antwerp-blue, dusky 

 on their inner webs ; tail black, the feathers slightly edged dull 



PART II. 4 X 



