GRALLA TORES. 



307 



tail short; tarsi robust; frontal extension small, ending in a point 

 on the forehead. Inferior coverts as long as the tail. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about thirteen inches; wing, 

 six and a half inches ; tail, two inches ; bill to gape, one and one- 

 fourth inches ; tarsus, two inches. 



Colors. — Entire plumage dark cinereous, nearly black on the head 

 and neck, lighter on the breast and abdomen, and tinged with olive- 

 brown on the back. Tips of secondaries white, forming an oblique 

 bar on the wing when folded ; outer edge of the first primary white ; 

 under tail-coverts white. " Bill reddish-white, the frontal knob pale 

 blue ; legs bluish-green." (Peale.) 



Hab. — Sandwich Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington 

 City. 



A species much resembling several others of this rather difficult 

 genus, but apparently distinct, and probably restricted to the Sand- 

 wich Islands. It has a comparatively longer and more slender bill 

 than the common species of North America, more resembling in that 

 respect Fulica australis, Gould, and some other species. It appears 

 also to be uniformly smaller than the species to which we allude. 

 The only specimens that have ever come under our notice, are in the 

 collection of the Expedition, and are in mature plumage and good 

 preservation. 



Mr. Peale observes of this bird : 



"At the Sandwich Islands it is not uncommon on marshy banks of 

 creeks and in taro patches, and, according to our observations, is re- 

 stricted to that group." 



This species is represented in our plate rather smaller than the size 

 of life. 



2. Fulica Americana, Grnelin.— The Coot. The Mud Hen. 



Fulica americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 704 (1788). 

 FuUca Wilsoni, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XII, p. 236 (1824) 



Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, Plate LXXIII, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate 

 CCXXXIX ; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCV. 



