340 
GALLINULES. 
Following the Crakes, the form of the Gallinules 
next presents itself. They are birds of larger size, 
and more aquatic in their habits, swimming with 
ease, and diving to avoid danger. 
Gallinula, Latham. — Generic characters . — Bill 
short, compressed; culmen broadened into a 
shield on the forehead ; nasal farrow not con- 
spicuous ; nostrils pervious and pierced in it ; 
wings short, concave, second or third quill 
longest ; carpal joint armed with a spine ; legs 
rather short, strong, naked above the tarsal 
joint ; feet large ; toes long and rather slender, 
cleft to the base, bordered with a narrow mem- 
brane ; tarsus comparatively short and articu- 
lated on the same plane. 
Types, G. chloropus. Europe, Asia, Africa, and 
America. 
Note . — Habits aquatic ; swim freely ; lay nume- 
rous eggs ; perch on rails or low trees ; fly with 
comparative difficulty. 
Young. 
