136 
THE COMMON GALLINULE. 
decimate as far as the middle, then arcuato-declinate,tlie ridge rather narrow, 
the sides nearly perpendicular, towards the end slightly convex, the edges 
sharp, with a notch close upon the narrow obtuse tip. Nasal groove extend- 
ing to the middle of the bill, rather broad ; nostrils submedial, lateral, linear, 
direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the sides 
nearly erect, with a groove to the middle, the dorsal line beyond the angle 
ascending, straight, the edges sharp, inclinate, the tip narrowed, rather sharp. 
Head small, oblong, much compressed. Neck of moderate length, slender. 
Body much compressed. Feet large, long ; tibia bare a considerable way 
above the joint ; tai'sus rather long, strong, compressed, anteriorly covered 
with broad scutella, laterally with angular scales, posteriorly with minute 
scales ; hind toe comparatively small, middle toe longest and much longer 
than the tarsus, fourth considerably shorter, and but little longer than the 
second ; toes, free, slender, compressed, scutellate above, flat beneath and 
marginate ; claws, rather long, slender, much compressed, acute. 
Plumage, soft, blended, on the fore part of the head short ; a tuft of elon 
gated incurved feathers on the sides. Wings short, broad ; alula large ; 
primaries curved, broad, second and third longest, first and sixth about 
equal ; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail short, much roun<fed, of twelve 
rather weak rounded feathers, which but slightly exceed the upper and 
lower coverts. 
Frontal plate and bill deep carmine, the ends of both mandibles yellow. 
Iris bright red. Feet yellowish-green, a portion of the bare part of the tibia 
carmine ; claws dusky. Head and neck deep bluish-grey ; that colour con- 
tinues paler over the breast, sides and abdomen, the latter having the 
feathers tipped with greyish-white, and the posterior hypochondrial feathers 
having a longitudinal band of white towards the end ; lower eyelid white, 
as are the lateral lower tail-coverts, those in the middle black. The back 
and wings are deep olive, the latter having a narrow edging of white, Avhich 
also runs along the outer quill. Tail brownish-black. 
Length to end of tail 14 inches, to end of claws 19 ; extent of wings 22 ; 
wing from flexure ; tail 3 ; bill from base of frontal plate 1|4, along the 
edge of lower mandible 11 ; tarsus 21, middle toe 2 r \, its claw T |-. Weight 
12 oz. 
The female is similar to the male, but has the frontal plate smaller. 
The young, when fledged, have the upper part of the head of an olivaceous- 
brown, like the back and wings, the neck of a light dull grey, the chin dull 
white, the lower parts light grey, tinged with yellowish on the breast, most 
of the feathers tipped with whitish, the lines on the hypochondrial feathers 
of a dull cream colour and of small extent. The frontal plate is small, and 
