GALLiNULA. GALLINULE. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum capite brevior, rec- 
tum, basi crassum, supra 
convexum. compressum, 
ad apicem paulo tumi- 
dum ; mandibula superiore 
margo inferioris tegente. 
Frons nuda. 
Pedes tetradactyli, fissi ; di- 
gitis membrana recta, in- 
tegra, instructis. 
Beak shorter than the head, 
straight, thick at the base, 
convex above, compressed, 
rather swollen at the tip; 
the upper mandible co- 
vering the margin of the 
lower. 
Forehead naked. 
Legs four-toed, cleft ; the toes 
furnished with a straight, 
entire membrane. 
GALLINULA. Ray, Biiss., Lath., Cuv., &c. 
FULICA. Linn., Gmel. 
PORPHYRIO. Briss. 
The beak of the Gallinules somewhat resenibles 
that of the Rails, but the naked forehead is a suf- 
ficient characteristic mark of distinction between the 
two genera, added to which, the slight membrane 
surrounding the toes is also a strong distinctive 
character. There are but few species in this genus ; 
and their manners, as far as known, resemble those 
detailed of the common species. 
