337 
of the United States . 
Young, brownish-olive, beneath whitish. 
Common Gallinule, Gallinula chloropus, Nob. Am. Orn. 
iii.pl . adult. 
Inhabits throughout the year in the southern states only : 
common in Europe, and found with little or no variations in 
all warm and temperate climates ! A most singular fact, 
which would lead to the belief of the existence of as many 
species. Corresponds exactly with my European, and espe- 
cially Java specimens. 
58. FULICA. 
Fulica , L. Briss. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm.. Vieill. Ranz* 
Bill shorter than the head, stout, nearly straight, conico- 
convex, compressed, higher than broad at base, tapering, 
acute at tip ; mandibles equal ; upper covering the margins 
of the lower, furrowed each side at base, subvaulted, the base 
running far up, and spreading out into a naked membrane 
covering the forehead, sometimes furnished with crest-like 
appendages ; lower mandible navicular : nostrils in the fur- 
row, medial, lateral, concave, oblong, pervious, half closed 
by a turgid membrane : tongue compressed, entire. Feet 
placed far back, moderate ; naked crural space small ; tarsus 
shorter than the middle toe, compressed, rounded before, 
somewhat sharp behind ; anterior toes very long, slender, 
nearly divided, edged on both sides by a broad scalloped 
membrane ; hind toe equal to a phalanx of the middle one, 
bearing on the ground nearly its whole length, edged on the 
inner side by an entire membrane : nails short, compressed, 
curved, very acute. Wings moderate, rounded, concave ; 
first primary equal to the fifth ; second and third longest. 
Tail short, narrow, of twelve or fourteen feathers. 
Female hardly differing from the male. Young but little 
dissimilar to the adult. Old birds exhibiting striking differ- 
ences in the form and color of the frontal disk. Moult twice 
