INTRODUCTION. 
lxxv 
fore part of a membranous groove, with the opening oval and exposed. Wings very short and rounded, with the 
fifth and sixth quills equal and longest ; the secondaries and the coverts lengthened and very soft. Tail more or 
less lengthened, round and soft. Tarsi robust, shorter than the middle toe and covered with transverse scales. 
Toes long and strong, with the inner toe rather shorter than the outer, the hind toe short and rather slender ; the 
claws moderate and rather acute. 
Genus PORPHYRIO, Brisson. Most parts of the World. 
Gen. char. Bill short, very much elevated at the base, which is flat and broadly dilated on the forehead ; the 
culmen much arched to the tip ; the sides much compressed ; the nostrils placed in a small nasal groove and 
rounded. Wings moderate, with the second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail short and 
rounded. Tarsi long, shorter than the middle toe, and scutellated with broad transverse scales. Toes very long, 
slender, and free at their base, with the lateral ones unequal, the outer longest ; the claws long, slender, and some- 
what curved. 
Genus NOTORNIS, Owen. Endemic. 
Gen. char. — Bill somewhat shorter than the head ; greatly compressed on the sides, both mandibles being 
much deeper than broad; tomia sharp, curving downwards, inclining inwards and slightly serrated; culmen 
elevated, much arched and rising on the forehead to a line with the posterior angle of the eye ; nostrils round and 
placed in a depression near the base of the bill. Wings very short, rounded, and slightly concave ; primaries soft 
and yielding, the first short, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh equal and the longest. J'aiGfeathers soft, 
yielding, and loose in texture. Tarsi powerful, longer than the toes, almost cylindrical ; very broad anteriorly, 
defended in front and on either side posteriorly by broad and distinct scut cl l;c ; the spaces between the scutellse 
reticulated. Anterior toes large and strong, armed with powerful hooked nails, and strongly scutellated on their 
upper surface ; hind toe short, strong, placed somewhat high on the tarsus, and armed with a blunt hooked nail. 
Genus CABALUS, Hutton. Confined to the Chatham Islands. 
Rccllus philippensis. Cabalus dieffenbachii. 
Gen. char. — Bill longer than the head, moderately slender and slightly curved, compressed in the middle and 
slightly expanding towards the tip ; nostrils placed in a membranous groove, which extends beyond the middle of 
the bill ; openings exposed, oval, near the middle of the groove. Wings very short, rounded ; quills soft, the outer 
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