Part 106

FAMILY XXXIII. RALLINÆ. RAILS.

Bill moderately stout, or slender, short or elongated, compressed, with the point narrow, but obtuse. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; toes very long, scutellate, marginate; hind toe rather short. Claws long, little arched, compressed, acute. Plumage blended, but stiffish. Wings short, convex, rounded, tail very short, rounded. Tongue slender, channelled above, tapering to a bristly point; œsophagus long, rather narrow; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the lateral and inferior muscles prominent, the epithelium dense, with two flattish grinding surfaces; intestine long, of moderate width; cœca long, narrowed toward the base; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, flattened, with a pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest bulky, and rudely constructed, on the ground, or supported by grass, or on trees. Eggs numerous, oblong. Young covered with stiffish black down.

GENUS I. GALLINULA, Briss. GALLINULE.

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line beyond this slightly declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge gradually narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, oblong, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, fourth longer than second, third considerably longer, all scutellate. Claws very long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage blended, form and wings of moderate length, broad, convex, with the second and third quills longest; tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts almost as long.

305. 1. Gallinula Martinica, Linn. Purple Gallinule.

Plate CCCV. Male.

Frontal plate blue; bill carmine, tipped with yellow; head, fore part of neck, and breast, purplish-blue; abdomen and tibial feathers dusky; sides and lower wing-coverts green; lower tail-coverts white; upper parts olivaceous green; sides of neck, and outer part of wings greenish-blue.

Male, 13-1/2, 21-1/2.

Breeds and resides from Texas to South Carolina. Stragglers seen as far as Massachusetts. Up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rather common in Louisiana and Florida.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Porphyrio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 67.

Gallinula martinica, Bonap. Syn. p. 336.

Purple Gallinule, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 221.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula martinica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 37.

306. 2. Gallinula Chloropus, Linn. Common Gallinule.

Plate CCXLIV.

Frontal plate, eyes, ring on tibiæ, and bill carmine, the latter tipped with yellow; head, neck, and lower parts, greyish-black; abdomen greyish-yellow; lower tail-coverts and some streaks on the sides, with the edge of the wing, and the outer web of the first quill white; upper parts brownish-olive; quills and tail dusky. Female similar, with the frontal plate small. Young similar, but with the bill dull green, and the breast faintly barred with whitish.

Male, 14, 22.

From Texas to South Carolina, common, and resident. Stragglers are seen as far as Massachusetts. Abundant in Louisiana and Florida. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Fresh water.

Gallinula galeata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 128.

Florida Gallinule, Gallinula galeata, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 223.

Common Gallinule, Gallinula Chloropus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 330.

GENUS II. FULICA, Linn. COOT.

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, linear, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length, slender; body full, compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, their margins dilated into flat lobes, the hind toe with a single inferior lobe. Claws of moderate length, slightly arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage, blended, soft. Wings short, broad, convex, with the second quill longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts nearly as long. Gizzard extremely muscular; cœca very long, being a fifth part of the length of the intestine.

307. 1. Fulica Americana, Gmel. American Coot.--Mud-Hen.

Plate CCXXXIX.

Frontal plate and bill white, the latter dusky toward the end; head and neck greyish-black, upper parts deep bluish-grey, with an olivaceous tinge on the scapulars and inner secondaries; quills greyish-brown, tail brownish-black; breast and abdomen dull bluish-grey, lighter behind; edge of wing, outer margin of first quill, tips of outer secondaries, and lower tail-coverts white. Female of a lighter tint, with the frontal plate smaller.

Male, 13-10/12, 25.

From Texas to the northern parts of Maine. Exceedingly abundant in Louisiana and the Floridas, during winter and spring, where some remain to breed. The greater number breed in Maine and New Brunswick, as well as along the Great Lakes. Rare in the Middle Atlantic districts. Columbia River.