RALLI 331 



for the supra-orbital glands. The keel is reduced as com- 

 pared with living coots, its height being 12 mm. as compared 

 with 17 mm. and 15 mm. in F. atra and F. cristata. The 

 wing is short in proportion to the leg, shorter than in F. atra ; 

 but Andrews thinks that the bird ' may still have been 

 capable of heavy flight for short distances.' 



Nesolimnas is a more aberrant form in some particulars. 

 It may be still living, but the only specimen was obtained in 

 1840. The most striking feature in the osteology of this 

 bird appears to be the schizorhinal nostrils, which do not 

 occiir elsewhere in the rails (as defined in the present volume) . 

 The wings are reduced, but the scapula and the coracoid do 

 not make a wide angle (forty-five as against sixty for Ocy- 

 dromus). 



Of the extinct European rails described by Milnb-Edwaeds, 

 from the Eocene and Miocene, a number of species have been 

 described and referred to the genus Balhis. Gypsornis is believed 

 to be most nearly akin to Aramides. 



OTIDES 



Definition. — Three-toed birds. Oil gland absent. Aftersbaft present. 

 Aquiuoubital. Skull sohizognatlious, liolorliinal, witbont basi- 

 pterygoid processes. Muscle formula, BXT + . Cseca long. ITo 

 biceps slip. Sxpansor secundariorum present. Syrinx -without 

 intrinsic muscles. 



The bustards are undoubtedly a much-specialised group, not 

 (in my opinion) distinctly nearer to the charadriiform birds, 

 where they are placed by Fuebbingee, than to the cranes, 

 with which they are associated by Gadow. 



They are distinguished from all their allies by the total 

 absence of an oil gland. The feathers have an aftershaft. 

 There are twenty rectrices in Otis and Houbara, sixteen in 

 Eupodotis Denhami, eighteen in Tetrax. 



In both Otis and Tetrax the lateral neck spaces are 

 reduced to a rudiment on each side close to the shoulder. 

 The dorsal tract is divided high up on the back of the neck ; 

 the two halves come nearer together, and at the same time 



