GALMINIILE '(Lat. gallinula, diminutive of galling, hen). A bird of one or other of the genera Gallinula, Iornis, etc., of the family Ral lithe, closely allied to the coots, and having the upper mandible similarly extending up on the forehead in a naked soft plate, but the toes usual ly furnished with an undivided narrow marginal membrane. This membrane and the great length of the toes enable the gallinules to swim well, and all of them are aquatic. The species are about 30 in number, some of them confined to tropical regions. Two occur in the United States. The Florida gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is brownish olive above, grayish black beneath, and the bill is red. It is a little more than a foot in length, and is found from New York State, Minne sota, and California southward through Central and Northern South America, though only a sum mer visitor in most of the United States. Its nesting habits are like those of the coot (q.v.). The purple gallinule (lornis Martiniea) is a trifle smaller, and a handsome olive green above, the head and under parts being a beautiful pur plish blue. It is a South and Central American species, common to the West Indies and the South Atlantic States, where it is resident. (See
Plate of RAILS, ETC.) All these birds are com monly known as 'mud-hens,' and are shot for sport, but the flesh is not good.
The common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) of Europe is more usually styled in Great Britain 'water-hen,' or 'moor-hen.' It is widely diffused in the Old World, and abundant in suitable situa tions, such as river marshes and the artificial ponds of parks, where these birds may often be seen in considerable numbers, swimming to gether, with a peculiar nodding motion of the head. They seek their food both on the surface of the water and by diving, partly also among the grass of meadows and river-banks. A fre quent jerking of the tail is very characteristic of them. When alarmed, they sometimes seek safety by flight, but more frequently by hiding among rushes or reeds. They make their nests near the water which they frequent, and usually on the ground, and lay from seven to ten brown and speckled eggs. The flesh is well flavored. See COOT and RAIL.