F. atm, 
. . F, gigantea, 
. . F. ardesiam. 
. . F. cristata. 
Lophophalaris Heine, Nomencl. Mus. Hein. Orn., p. 317 (1888).. F. cristata. 
Birds like the species of Gallinula but differing in having the toes lobed. Bill 
stout and somewhat laterally compressed, shorter than the head, and with a 
large frontal shield. Nostrils pervious, elongated slits in the fore-part of the 
nasal groove ; wings short and rounded ; tarsus short, laterally compressed, 
provided posteriorly with a membranous fringe ; tail short, consisting of 
fourteen, sometimes sixteen, rectrices ; toes long, the middle toe without claw 
exceeding the tarsus in length, each joint having a membranous lobe on each 
side. About sixteen forms are attached to this genus. 
Distribution. Almost cosmopolitan, save Polynesia and New Zealand. 
Genus— F U L I C A. 
Fulica Linne, Syst. Nat., Xth Ed., p. 152 (1758) . . 
Phalaria Beichenbach, Nat. Syst. Vog., p. xxi. (1852) 
Lysca id,, ib 
Lupha id., ib 
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