GALL1NULINJE. 
108 
These birds inhabit marshes, moist meadows, the sides 
of lakes and rivers ; make their way with ease among the 
tall herbage, from which they are not easily raised ; have 
a heavy but rather quick flight, during which they extend 
their feet backwards ; form a bulky nest on the ground, 
and lay numerous ovate or oblong spotted eggs. They 
are more numerous in warm climates, but are generally 
distributed. 
FAMILY XXXVIII. GALLINULINJE. GAL- 
LINULINE BIRDS, OR WATER-HENS. 
Body large, much compressed ; neck of moderate 
length ; head small, oblong, compressed. Bill moderately 
stout, and of ordinary length, but varying from short to 
long, always compressed, and rather strong, with the point 
narrow, but obtuse. Both mandibles concave within, the 
lower more deeply ; the palate flat, and papillate ; tongue 
fleshy, oblong or slender, with a few short papillse at the 
base, the tip thin, obtuse, and lacerate ; oesophagus of 
moderate capacity, without crop or remarkable dilatation ; 
proventriculus oblong ; stomach a powerful gizzard, like 
that of a Gallinaceous bird, with very large, distinct 
muscles, and thick rugous epithelium ; intestine long, of 
moderate width ; coeca long ; rectum dilated into an ellip- 
tical or globular cloaca. Nostrils direct, pervious, in the 
fore and lower part of the nasal groove. Eyes rather 
small, eyelids feathered. Aperture of ear roundish, and 
rather small. Legs stout ; tibia bare to a considerable 
extent ; tarsus large, compressed, anteriorly scutellate ; 
toes very long, slender, free ; the first very small, the 
anterior long, the inner shorter than the outer ; claws 
generally long, little arched or straight, compressed, acute. 
Plumage blended, but firm, on the head very short ; the 
