332 ARAMIDZ. 
Suborder ALECTORIDES. 
The members of this Suborder have schizorhinal nostrils, in which respect they 
differ from the Fulicariz, the nostrils in the latter being holorhinal; and Mr. Lydekker 
further points out as osteological features that the angle of the mandible is always 
truncated and that the humerus never has an ectepicondylar process. 
The Families included in the Alectorides are all very distinct and easily recognized. 
They consist of the Aramide, Eurypygide, Rhinochetide, Mescenatide (Mesitide), 
Gruide, Psophiide, and Otidide. Of these only one, viz. the Gruide, is found in both 
the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, the Otidide, Mescenatide, and Rhinochetide are 
purely Old-World forms, and the Psophiide, Eurypygide, and Aramide are Neotropical, 
with the exception that the latter extends to Florida in the Nearctic Region. 
Fam. ARAMIDA. 
The species of this Family have such a pronounced general resemblance to the 
Rails that it is somewhat remarkable to find that they belong to a different Suborder. 
The osteology and anatomy, however, leave no doubt upon this point. The palate 
is schizognathous, the nostrils holorhinal; there are twelve rectrices, and the sternum, 
like that of the Cranes, has no posterior notches. In the form of the bill the Aramide 
resemble the Rails, this organ being very long and curved, and having the nostrils 
perforated and linear, situated in a deep nasal groove, which extends for two-thirds of 
the length of the bill, while a very distinct groove runs along the sides of the mandible 
for two-thirds of its length. ‘The first primary is sickle-shaped, narrowed and incised 
for the basal two-thirds and spatulate at the tip. The oil-gland is tufted. 
The family includes but a single genus. 
ARAMUS. 
Aramus, Vieill. Analyse, p. 58 (1816); Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 237 (1894). 
The characters of the genus Aramus are the same as those of the family. Two 
species are known, viz., A. pictus of Southern Florida, Central America, and the West 
Indies, and A. scolopaceus, which inhabits Guiana, Venezuela, and Brazil. 
In habits these birds resemble the Rails, and they affect similar localities. The 
nest, composed of rushes, is placed in a marsh, and the eggs are ten or twelve in 
number, of a dull white colour, with blotches of pale brown and purple. 
