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GALLINULINiE. CREX. 
ing to beyond the middle ; lower mandible with the angle 
long and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending, the edges 
slightly inflected, the tip narrow, but obtuse ; the gape-line 
straight. Mouth very narrow ; tongue short, or of moderate 
length, slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, flat 
above, with the point narrow but rounded ; oesophagus nar- 
row ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach roundish, with the 
lateral muscles very large, the epithelium dense, rugous, 
with oblong flat grinding surfaces ; intestine of moderate 
length and width ; coeca long, narrow. Eyes small ; eye- 
lids feathered. Nostrils sub-basal, linear, pervious. Aper- 
ture of ear small. Feet large ; tibia bare for a short space ; 
tarsus rather long or moderate, compressed, anteriorly co- 
vered with broad, curved scutella ; toes long, slender, much 
compressed ; the first proportionally very small, the second 
a little shorter than the fourth, all scutellate ; claws rather 
long, slender, tapering, slightly arched, much compressed, 
acute. Plumage blended, firm or stiff ; feathers of the fore- 
head with strong bristle-points, of the body oblong, and 
broadly rounded ; wings short or moderate, concave, round- 
ed, of twenty-four quills ; the first much shorter than the 
second, which is longest, or equal to the third ; tail ex- 
tremely short, arched, much rounded, of twelve very weak 
feathers. 
These birds differ from the Pails chiefly in having the bill 
shorter and stouter, and the body somewhat fuller. No two 
species agree precisely in the form of the bill. The tarsi and 
toes also vary considerably in length. On some slight dif- 
ferences of this nature authors have founded several genera ; 
but on the same principle, every species must make a genus. 
As defined above, the genus is easily recognised in every 
specific form. The Gallinules inhabit meadows, corn-fields, 
marshes, and, in general, places covered with a rank growth 
of graminese and cyperacese. They run with great speed, 
but fly in a heavy manner ; feed on insects, worms, mollus- 
ca, and seeds. Most of them swim and dive with ease ; but 
some, and especially our most common species, confine them- 
selves to dry places. The nest is large, and the eggs nu- 
merous, oval or oblong, light coloured, and spotted. The 
young are at first covered with black down. 
