242 FULICAEI^ 



gland is tufted ; the ambiens, femorocaudal, accessory femorocaudal 

 and semitendinosus muscles are always present. 



There are two families only, both represented in our fauna. 



Key of the Genera. 



A. Toes simple, with no lateral marginal lobes or 



webs. 

 a. Culmen distinctly longer than the middle toe 



and claw Ballus, p. 243. 



6. Culmen distinctly shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw. 

 a'. No frontal shield at the base of the upper 

 mandible. 

 a^. Tarsus equal to or longer than the middle 



toe and claw Crex, p. 245. 



6^. Tarsus distinctly shorter than the middle 

 toe and claw, 

 a.'. Wings pointed, the secondaries falling 

 short of the primaries by about the 



length of the hind toe and claw Ortygonietra, p. 2i9. 



6'. Wings more rounded, the difference 



between the longest primaries and 



secondaries less than the length of 



the hind toe and claw. 



a''. Tail-feathers soft and decomposed ... Sarothrura, ^. '252. 



6'. Tail-feathers normal, not decomposed. 



a\ Outer secondaries white Coturnicops, p. 257. 



6'. Outer secondaries not white. 

 a^. Plumage variegated with white 



streaks Limnobcenus, Tp. 258. 



6". Plumage black Limnocorax, ^. 259. 



b\ Upper mandible prolonged on the forehead to 

 form a frontal shield. 

 yp. Wings long and pointed ; first primary longer 

 than the secondaries ; toes with a narrow 



lateral margin ; plumage dusky Gallinula, p. 261. 



V. Wings rounded, first primary equal to the 

 second ; toes with no lateral margins, 

 plumage blue and green Porphyrio, p. 266. 



B. Toes with lateral marginal expansions or lobes 



corresponding to the phalanges. 



a. Tail soft and short, about a quarter the length 



of the wing FuUca, p. 269. 



b. Tail longer, about two-thirds the length of 



the wing ; feathers stiffened, pointed and 



graduated Podica, p. 273, 



