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.