that both the American and J avan speeies differ from the common
kind ih huting ifi-muA wider, and differently shaped :; in the
American it extends still. further. hack, and is cut somewhat,
^pare/behind** whilst the Javan has it ex-actly rounded^nn the
Em’ppean it fit much less, extended, narrow, and; comparatively
acute* In point of; farm*markia^^ proportions p f the primaries,
and tevgry other particular we g«M think of, we have been
unable to find any distinction, however trifling* between the three
species. '
The genus JxaRiniule, restrained within its. just limits,* Is a
small gi»@!upi composed of but five or six species spread over all
the Warm and tempeeato*©limnte&of the globe, and exceedin gly
similar in form andi celiours: dtily One*that figured by Wilson/
assumes the brilliant Vesfnre of its near relations the Porphyqiones,
far which reason some authors, have considered it as one of them.
Togetheriwifeh >the Rails, the Coots, and some Others it forms the
natural Tamilf Macradactyli, (R a llid se and is more aquatic |n »6s
habits than mariyweb-footed birds. ' ’ Unlike-the Coots*. however,
the Gallinules dislike salt or brackish water* andeonfine themselves
re fre sh , and to rivers and streams especially, and^ffliy
are solitary, or at most the hen is seen with her family* like
tfefe Gsdllnaeeous bwds of ith a t’Sei. Being chiefly nocturnal, the
Gallinules hide, f areiM^f by: day among reeds and other, aquatfe
plants#sand, e rsa in a State ofi captivity theyare so remarkable
for this bsibit*! tlat^ some- yrhieh I kept in a yard would take
advstetagenf Ovmy hidihg-.pta©e to eleape the eye of man. Mjfrllif
only at the approach, of night that they would willingly display
on the water theitgraeefui evolutions, swimming in circles, and
often striking the .water with their tails-. From time to time
* T h l:g r e a te r jig rtsef authors, and among th em L a th am and T em m in c k , imp rop erly
u njte tk e Short-bHled B a ils w ith th em .
ti^W o d ld ^ ir^ ■ ptefagThfeir necks $ p * p p® |p p ^ | large
IWipMH! htptaMc plants. ; ■
cfegifted by; irawite: wings -of-- other '
Water . befifg any t h i n g s h i f t y - both their
conformation and natural disposition- b a llo t nmdertakingc long
periodical migrations,' but atW permanently resident in their native
eownwies, merely ^emoVing from on'e> station to another within
certain proVfeefes, and wfthoht roaming ov€r the Ujdjafceilt districts:
They rub * with ’rapidity; ffylSial®3?'| always, in tnofion, and fre-
qUeMtly'catry thierr tall, high, as represented in the plate, showing
therwhife plumage of the vent, especially* when running- od the
ground* They dive when frightened, but never ifte r ftiOil. '"''They-
feed on small fishes/ insects* and :-S©®ae»4egetables, picking them
up a$ they SWimi. T h e^ sfeldom leave;IBlie pond ' or river where
fheysg©f; their food and exercfise-, and arllp#cnliarly attached to
^fehasareT bordfeFed'with stdgb and' busBseA* /fliSutf standing wn*@§i|-
gf een with Vegetation* furnish themrw#tk abundant provision * of
. animafahla f I and :pohdiw^Vlhi>i * Tl&ey " lay . dr - thrice in a
season, bhiMixig their Hcstnipon low trees,;sMmps- and bigfi#witli
SlMks andifiMorrs substances, rushes and vNepit4':or*so^glr cpa¥se
materials in great .abundance, invaiiaMy plaeirfig i t by the water
side/' The eggs are very lorig, of a greenish white* spotted with*
riffote^am®40ry pointed at the small end. ISlfere tee nine or
teit in the first brood,Ith® sobsequehtones'less an® lies® numerous,
and the’’’ mother never leavls the nest
thfem with Wfeeds. The'Chioks are no sooner, hatched; than they
swim, with irati®#live dexterity, pursuing their parent,, find imi-
' tatMg a ll her lhotaons/: Thus a re two or -three broods reU re d in ■
a se'a-soA, which while u n d e r’ her c a re she regularly after their
evening’s Sport leads back^fo the nest, where she uses every
e xA rW n ^ make them wafito*- d®y** an d eora|ortable: but when
gifewh i p an d tanght to pf oyi#e for’ t®mnsn|^Wf pti® turns them off.