Subfamily GALLINULINJE. 

 Genus GALLINULA or TRUE WATERHENS. 



Type GALLINULA CHLOROPUS. 



Gallinula of Brisson (1760). — The birds comprising the 

 present genus are characterised by their long slender toes, which 

 are free from lobes, but bordered by a very narrow membrane, 

 and by their small frontal shield. The wings are short and 

 rounded, armed with a small recumbent spine ; the tail is short 

 and composed of twelve feathers. The legs are long, and the 

 lower part of the tibia devoid of feathers. The bill is short, 

 stout, compressed, slightly swelling towards the tip ; the culmen 

 extended and expanding into an oblong frontal plate ; nostrils 

 longitudinal, lateral, situated in a groove, pierced in a membrane. 

 Three toes in front, long and slender, cleft to the base ; hind toe 

 moderately long ; claws sharp. 



This genus is composed of about sixteen species, which are 

 distributed in all parts of the world except the Arctic latitudes. 

 One species is resident in the British Islands. 



The True or typical Waterhens are dwellers on the banks of 

 lakes and rivers, frequenting the reeds and coarse vegetation by 

 the waterside. They are skulking birds, of slow and laboured 

 flight, making bulky nests amongst the aquatic vegetation, and 

 their eggs are numerous and spotted. Their notes are shrill and 

 unmusical. They run and walk with a peculiar jerking movement 

 of the tail. Their food consists of worms, insects, seeds, 

 herbage, grain, and fruits. They are monogamous. 



