136 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
the brown color lighter and duller. Downy young: “Covered with coarse 
tufty feathers of a black color.” Length 25.00-28.00, wing 11.00-13.00, cul- 
men 3.50-4.75, tarsus 3.50-5.20, middle toe 3.30-3.50. Eggs 4-7 (sometimes 
as many as 15?), 2.32 x 1.70, pale dull buff, spotted, daubed, and stained with 
brown and purplish gray. Hab. Greater Antilles, Florida, coast of Gulf of 
Mexico, and south to Costa Rica (both sides). 
207. A. giganteus (Bonap.). Limpkin. 
a. White markings confined to head and neck. Wing 12.50-14.20, culmen 4.30- 
4.70, tarsus 4.60-5.20. Hab. Eastern South America. 
A. scolopaceus (GMEL.). Brazilian Courlan.! 
Famity RALLIDAE.—Tue Ratts, GALLinuLes, AND Coots. (Page 134.) 
Genera. 
a’. No frontal process, or shield-like extension of bill over forehead. (Subfamily 
Ralline.) 
bo. Bill slender, as long as, or longer than, the tarsus..... Rallus. (Page 136.) 
b. Bill stout, not more than two-thirds as long as the tarsus (usually much 
less). 
c. Middle toe (without claw) not shorter than tarsus; base of gonys not 
forming a decided angle.............ccceeeenerees Porzana. (Page 139.) 
ce’. Middle toe shorter than tarsus; base of gonys forming a decided 
ANGE sa avis icatecie a ai Ue sin eaisesate’s Pasir lees av sae enesesonae’ Crex. (Page 140.) 
a’. Forehead covered by a shield-like extension of the culmen. 
bY. Toes without lateral lobes or flaps. (Subfamily Gallinuline.) 
ce. Nostril small, oval; middle toe (without claw) shorter than tarsus; 
inner posterior face of tarsus covered by a single row of large 
quadrate scutelle.......ccceccesseeeeeeeeecseneeees Ionornis. (Page 140.) 
ce. Nostril elongated, slit-like ; middle toe (without claw) longer than tar- 
sus; inner posterior face of tarsus covered with several irregular 
rows of small hexagonal scales................ Gallinula. (Page 141.) 
b. Toes provided with conspicuous lateral lobed membranes, or “flaps.” (Sub- 
family FUulicin®.)......cccsscccsesccececsveetecesscenseessees Fulica. (Page 141.) 
Genus RALLUS Linnavs. (Page 136, pl. XL., fig. 1.) 
Species. 
Common CHaracrers.—Above brownish or grayish, striped, more or less dis- 
tinctly, with darker; chin and upper throat whitish ; fore-neck, chest, and breast, 
plain cinnamon, varying to buffy grayish; sides, flanks, and axillars barred with 
brown or dusky and whitish. Downy young: Entirely uniform glossy black. West 
1 Ardea scolopacea GMEL., 8. N. i. pt. ii, 1788, 647. Aramuse scolopaceus ViEILL., Nouv. Dict. N. H. vii. 
1817, 301. 
