F ABRIDGE: JAgANAS. 
669 
16. Suborder RALLIFORMES : Ralliform Birds. 
Represented in North America by the three leading groups of Ballidoe — the Rails, Galli- 
nules, and Coots. (For position of ParridcE, see below.) 
49. Family PARRID^E: Ja9an^s. 
A smaU family of small wading-birds, of 3 genera and fewer than 12 species, combining 
characters of Plovers and Rails, outwardly distinguished from either by the excessive develop- 
ment of the toes and especially of the claws. These are slender, compressed, acute, nearly or 
quite straight ; that of the hind toe much exceeding its digit in length . The spread of feet thus 
acquired enables the birds to run with ease over the floating vegetation of the marshes they 
inhabit. The American genus is Parra (fig. 363) ; the Old World genera are Metopodius, 
Hydralector, and Hydrophasianus. The systematic position of the family has been much 
questioned. On nearly all counts, it would appear to be LimicoUne, not Alectoridinej and 
should be removed to the other order, next to Charadriidce. The bill of Parra is quite plover- 
like ; the spur on the wing and skin-flaps about the bill are like those of Hoplopterus and 
Lohivanellus (Plovers). With this understanding, I leave the family where I find it. 
270. PAR'RA. (Lat. parra, name of some bird.) Ja^anas. Bill plover-like, contracted in 
continuity, enlarged terminally; with culmen depressed to end of nasal groove, then convex 
and decurved; outline of mandibular rami about straight to the gonys, which is ascending; 
commissure about straight to the decurved end. Nasal grooves along the contracted portion 
of the bill ; nostrils small, elliptical, situate in advance of the base of the bill. Angle of mouth 
with a leaf-like lobe of skin (rudimentary in our species). Forehead with a large leaf-like 
lobe of skin, with free lateral and posterior edges, adherent centrally and anteriorly where 
reaching base of upper mandible. A sharp horny spur on bend of wing. Primaries 10, not 
peculiar in structure; outer 3 about equal and longest, overlaid by the inner quills in the 
closed wing. Tail very short, with soft rectrices concealed by the coverts. Tibiae bare below, 
and with the tarsus scutellate before and behind, the scutella tending to become confluent in a 
continuous sheath. All the toes, claws included, longer than tarsus; middle toe alone nearly 
as long as tarsus; outer toe alone about as long as middle, its claw shorter than that of middle 
toe ; inner toe a little shorter than outer, its claw longer ; hind toe only about as long as basal 
joint of middle toe, but its claw much longer than itself; all the claws slender, about straight, 
very acute. 
673. P. gymno'stoma. (Or. yu/xi/o's, ^f^^m^ios, naked : crro/xa, stoma, mouth. Fig. 53^er.) Mexican 
JA9AnA. Adult : G-eneral plumage rich purplish -chestnut, brightest on wings and tail, darkest 
on back, breast, and sides, fading on lower belly. Quills pale yellowish-green, with dusky 
edging in increasing extent from the secondaries to the outermost primary 5 alula and primary 
coverts blackish. Bill, frontal leaf, and wing-spur yellow ; base of upper mandible whitish, 
and space between it and the frontal leaf carmine ; feet greenish ; iris brown. Young : Grayish- 
brown above, streaked with brownish -yellow ; below, buffy-whitish, darker across breast, the 
sides and lining of wings dusky ; a light superciliary and dusky postocular stripe ) wing-quills 
greenish-yellow as in adult ] tail-feathers like upper parts. Frontal leaf rudimentary. 
Wing about 5.00 ; bill 1.25 ; tarsus, and middle toe without claw, 2.00. West Indies, Mexico, 
to Texas on the Lower Rio Grande. 
50. Family RALLID^: Rails, etc. 
This is a large and important family, abundantly represented in most parts of the world. 
They are birds of medium and small size, generally with compressed body and large strong 
legs (the muscularity of the thighs is very noticeable), enabling them to run rapidly and thread 
