GALLINULINJ^. 
Tribonyx  Dubus.* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head  ; the  culmen  elevated,  slightly  advancing  on  the  forehead,  gradually 
sloping  and  arched  to  the  tip,  Avith  the  sides  compressed ; the  nostrils  placed  in  a nasal  groove,  Avith  th 
opening  near  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Wings  very  short,  tuberculated,  Avith  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth 
quiUs  nearly  equal  and  longest.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe, 
covered  -with  transverse  scales.  Toes  moderate,  strong,  the  outer  longer  than  the  inner,  and  all  covered 
Avith  strong  scales  ; the  claA\^s  moderate  and  curved. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  peculiar  to  Australia.  According  to  Mr.  Gould  these  birds  are  excessively  shy, 
rarely  observed,  except  on  the  ground.  The  nest  occurs  in  sedge,  and  the  eggs  are  usually  six  in  number. 
1.  T.Mortieri  Dubus,  Bull.  Acad.  Sc.  Brux.  vii.  215.  t.—  I 2.  T.  tiereimlis  (Gould),  Proc.  Z.  S.  1 836.  85. 
Brachyptrallus  ralloides  Lafr.  | 
Gallinula  .Sms.f 
Bill  moderate,  Avith  the  base  of  the  culmen  more  or  less  extending  on  the  forehead,  and  suddenly 
curved  Bit  tlie  tip  j the  nostrils  pl&.ccd  in  ti  large  nasal  groovCj  with  the  opening  near  the  niiddle  ^ 
bill.  Wings  moderate,  with  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  quills  nearly  equal  and  longest.  Tail  shor* 
and  rounded.  Tarsi  strong,  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  broadly  scutellated  in  front.  Toes  very 
long,  divided  at  the  base,  margined  throughout  their  length  by  a membrane,  and  the  outer  longer 
the  inner. 
1*1  y 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  various  parts  of  the  world.  They  are  mostly  observed  in  the  evening  or 
twilight  on  the  borders  of  rivers,  lakes,  and  brooks,  especially  where  the  current  is  slow  and  deep,  and  the 
bordered  with  reeds  and  sedges,  among  which  they  retire  during  the  day.  These  birds  seem  to  prefer  tk® 
swimming  with  ease  in  a singular  flirting  manner,  continually  striking  the  water  with  their  tails : Avhen  approac 
alarmed,  they  have  recourse  to  diving,  which  they  perform  with  ease,  using  their  wings  as  fins ; or  they  tnke 
skimming  along  the  surface  to  the  first  cover  that  is  visible,  where  they  remain  concealed.  Gn  the  land,  these  ^ 
walk  about  with  facility,  flirting  up  their  tails  at  interA’als ; and  are  capable,  by  the  compressed  form  of  their  bo 
running  swiftly  through  covert  and  entangled  herbage,  and  even  of  passing  through  very  narrow  openings.  Fioin 
length  of  their  toes,  they  can  move  over  considerable  spaces  of  still  water,  on  the  yielding  surface  of  the  aquatic  o ^ 
Their  food  consists  of  slugs,  worms,  and  insects,  Avith  various  grains,  &c.  Their  nest  is  usually  formed  in  ^ 
spot,  among  the  reeds  on  the  side  of  water.  It  is  a thick  mass  of  interlaced  decayed  flags,  rushes,  &c.,  in  vely 
female  deposits  from  eight  to  ten  eggs.  The  young  take  to  the  water  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  and  are  atten 
watched  by  their  parents. 
1.  G.  chhropus  (Linn.)  Lath.  PI.  enl.  877.  — Fulicafusca  Linn. 
Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  342.  ; G.  pai’vifrons  Blyth  ; G.  chloropus 
var.  indicus  Blyth. 
2.  G.  orientalis  Horsf.  Linn.  Trans,  xiii.  igs.  — Gallinula  plum- 
bea  Fieill. ; G.  ardosiacea  Fieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  268. 
3.  G.  leucomelana  Mull.  & Sch.  Verb.  Nat.  Gesch.  Nederl.  p.  158. 
4.  G.  olwacea  Meyen,  Nova  Act.  &c.  1834.  lOp.  t.  20. 
5.  G.  phmiimira  (Penn.)  Ind.  Zool.  Ip.  pi.  P.,  PI.  enl.  8p6 
Gallinulajavanica//or^;  G.erythrina^ecA^L;  Fulica chinensis  Bodd. 
■ Gallinula 
et 
6.  G.  cristata  Lath.  — Fulica  cinerea  Gmel. ; 
G.  lugubris  Horsf. 
7.  ? G.  ncevia  Less.  Tr.  d’Orn.  534.  ^^ji.  pi- 
8.  G.  galeata  Pr.  Max.  Beitr.  iv.  808.,  Pr.  Bonap.  A”’’ 
27.  f.  1.  — Gallinula  chloropus  & G.  americanus  Er.  Sonop  > 
B.  of  Amer.  pi.  244.  j 
P.  G.  crassirostris  (Gray),  Griff.  An.  Kingd.  iii-  P-  ^ 
10.  G.  pileata  Pr.  Max.  Beitr.  iv.  802. 
11.  G.  porphyrio'ides  Less.  Tr.  d’Orn.  534. 
« Established  by  Chev.  Dubus  (Bull.  Acad.  Brux.  vii.  215.)  in  1837  1 and  Brachyptrallus  of  Baron  La  Fresnaye  (1840)  is 
t Established  by  Brisson  (Ornithologie)  in  I76O.  In  1800  or  1801,  Lac^pede  used  Hydrogallina  ; while,  in  1831,  M.  Brehm 
Stagnicola  for  the  same  set  of  birds. 
H H 
