Genus III.--Ortygometra, Leach. Crake-Gallinule

Birds of America

By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

VOLUME V.

GENUS III.--ORTYGOMETRA, Leach. CRAKE-GALLINULE.

Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex toward the end, the ridge flattish for a short space at the base, very slightly extended on the forehead, narrow in the rest of its extent, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, with a slight sinus close to the rather obtuse tip; nasal groove broad and extending to two-thirds; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides erect, the tip narrowed. Nostrils linear, lateral, submedial. Head rather small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body rather slender, much compressed. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare below; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with broad anterior scutella; hind toe short and slender, anterior toes very long, compressed, scutella, the outer slightly longer than the inner. Claws of moderate length, slender, extremely compressed, tapering to a fine point. Plumage rather stiff, but blended; feathers of the forehead with the shaft enlarged. Wings short and broad, somewhat convex, the second quill longest. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers. Digestive organs as in Gallinula.