JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 85 



four, no comb-like edge on inner side of middle toe nail ; hind toe, ele- 

 vated above level of front toes ; tarsus, broadly scutellate (transverse 

 scales) in front. 



Adult: General plumage, white; wing, over 22 inches long; bill, 

 5.20 to 6; tarsus, u inches or over. Immature birds are whitish; 

 often washed with pale rusty; head, entirely feathered. 



Grus americana. 

 Whooping Crane. 

 See No. 90. 



General plumage, slaty gray; bare skin on head of adult, red (in 

 life ) ; immature birds are brownish ; distinguished from the next by 

 its size. Wing over 20 (21 to 22.50); bill, 5 to 6 ; tarsus, 10 to 10.75 

 inches. Grus mexicana. 



Sandhill Crane. 



See No. 92. 



General plumage, slaty gray; resembles G. mexicana but smaller; 

 wing, less than 20 inches (17 to 19.75); tarsus, always less than 

 9.00 (6.60 to 8.75); bill, 3 to 4.50 inches. Northwestern species; 

 accidental straggler in Wisconsin. Grus canadensis. 



Little Brown Crane. 

 See No. 91. 



Suborder RALLI. 

 LIMPKINS, RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS, ETC. 



Family ARAMID^E. Courlans, Limpkins. 



Bill, over 3 inches long; tarsus, under 7; wing, under 16; toes, 

 four, no comb-like edge on inner side of middle toe nail; hind toe, 

 raised above level of front toes. 



General plumage, dark olive brown, streaked and marked with 

 pure white; tail, purplish brown, showing metallic gloss when held 

 in the light; feathers of the back, breast, and wing coverts, brown, 

 with stripe in middle of each feather; tip of lower mandible slightly 



