INTRODUCTION. Xxx 
Order GRALLA. 
Suborder FULICARLE. 
Family RALLID. 
CREX, Bechstezn.—Bill shorter than the head, thick at the base, compressed ; 
the culmen gradually deflexed from the forehead to the point of the bill; 
lateral furrow of the upper mandible broad, and occupying more than half its 
length; angle of the under mandible bending upwards; both mandibles of 
an equal length. Nostrils concave, lateral, linear, ovoid, pierced in a mem- 
brane occupying the furrow in the middle of the bill. Wings armed with a 
spine, and having the second and third quills the longest. Legs strong, 
of moderate length, with the lower part of the tibia naked; the three 
anterior toes long, slender, and without any lateral membrane as far as 
the base ; the hind toe resting almost wholly on the ground ; claws arcuate, 
compressed and sharp (p. 507). 
Porzana, Vied/ot.—Bill shorter than the head, slightly higher than broad at the 
base, compressed, tapering towards the point. Nostrils linear and oblong, the 
nasal groove reaching to the middle of the bill. Wings shorter than in Crex ; 
the second quill the longest. Tail short, rounded, the feathers narrow, weak, 
and slightly curved. Tibiz- bare on the lower part ; tarsi short, scutellated 
in front ; toes long and slender ; claws long and acutely tapering (p. 509). 
Ratius, Brzsson.—Bill longer than the head, slender, slightly decurved, com- 
pressed at the base, cylindrical at the point ; upper mandible grooved at 
the sides. Nostrils pierced longitudinally in the lateral groove, partly 
covered by a membrane. Wings moderate, rounded ; the first quill much 
shorter than the second, the third and fourth the longest. Legs long and 
robust, with a small naked space above the tarsal joint; the three anterior 
toes divided to their origin, the hind toe articulated upon the tarsus (p. 515). 
GALLINULA, &risson.—Bill thick at the base, compressed, slightly swollen 
towards the tip, subconic, as short as the head. Upper mandible convex, 
with the culmen extended and dilated, to form a naked, oblong frontal plate 
or shield ; lateral furrow wide; mandibles nearly equal in length; angle of 
the lower one ascending. Nostrils lateral, pervious, pierced in the mem- 
brane of the furrow in the middle of the bill, longitudinal and linear. 
Wings short, concave, rounded, armed with a small, sharp, recumbent spine. 
Legs long, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint ; tarsi scutellated in 
front, reticulated behind. Toes, three before and one behind, long, divided 
and bordered along their whole length by a narrow membrane (p. 517). 
Fuxica, Srésson.—Bill and frontal plate much as in Gaddnula. Wings of 
moderate size ; the first quill shorter than the second or third, which are the 
longest in the wing. Tail short. Legs rather long, naked above the tarsal 
joint ; three toes in front, one behind ; all the toes long, united at the base, 
and furnished laterally with lobed membranes (p. 519). 
Suborder GRUES. 
Family GRUIDZ. 
Grus, Bechstetn.—Bill longer than the head, straight, strong, compressed and 
pointed. Nostrils placed longitudinally in a furrow, large, pervious, closed 
posteriorly by a membrane. Wings moderate and rounded ; the first quill 
