110 
GALLINULINiE. RALLUS. 
GENUS CIX. RALLUS. RAIL. 
Birds of small or moderate size, having the body much 
compressed ; the neck rather long and slender ; the head 
small, oblong, much compressed. Bill longer than the head, 
slender, much compressed, high at the base, very slightly 
arcuate ; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly decli- 
nate at the base, straight in the middle, a little decimate 
toward the end, the ridge convex, having a slightly enlarged 
angular commencement, the sides nearly erect, the edges 
sharp, bard, and slightly inflected ; lower mandible with the 
angle extremely long and narrow, the dorsal line nearly 
straight, the edges slightly inflected, the tip narrow, but 
obtuse ; the gape-line almost straight. Mouth very narrow ; 
tongue very long, slender, trigonal, emarginate and papillate 
at the base, canaliculate above, tapering to a bristly point ; 
oesophagus narrow ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach round- 
ish, with the lateral muscles very prominent, the epithelium 
dense, rugous, with oblong flat grinding plates ; intestine of 
moderate length and width ; coeca long, very narrow for half 
their length, gradually enlarged and oblong ; cloaca globu- 
lar. Eyes small, eyelids feathered. Nostrils sub-basal, 
linear, pervious. Aperture of ear small. Feet large ; tibia 
bare for a short space ; tarsus of moderate length, com- 
pressed, anteriorly covered with broad, curved scutella ; toes 
very long, slender, much compressed ; tbe first proportion- 
ally small, the second considerably shorter than the fourth, 
all scutellate ; claws long, slender, tapering, slightly arched, 
much compressed, acute. Plumage blended ; feathers of the 
fore-head with strong bristle-points, of the body oblong and 
broadly rounded ; wings short, concave, rounded, of twenty- 
two quills ; the first much shorter than the second, which is 
about the same length as the third ; tail extremely short, 
arched, much rounded, of twelve very weak feathers. 
The Rails inhabit the reedy and grassy margins of lakes 
and rivers, where they habitually conceal themselves ; feed 
on worms, mollusca, small Crustacea, insects, seeds of gra- 
mineee and other plants ; are capable of swimming, and even 
of diving ; and in form and habits make some approxima- 
