ARAMID^ — THE COURLANS — ARAMUS. 



399 



the basal fourth of the bill. Head feathered to bill, only the eyelids naked. Legs lengthened ; tibia 

 half bare ; tarsus longer than middle toe ; toes without basal membrane : outer lateral rather longer 

 than inner ; middle claw not pectinated. The tarsi are lu'oadly scutellate anteriorly. 



The wings are broad and rounded ; the tertials equal to the inimaries. The first quill is 

 scarcely longer than the tenth, and subfalcate. The tail is composed of twelve feathers. 



. A. scolopaceus. 



Two species are at present known to naturalists, formerly supposed to be one. Cabanis was 

 the fir.?t to point out the diflerences between them, and to insi.'it that they were distinct, and not 

 merely adult and young. They differ as follows : — 



Com. Char. Prevailing color dark brown, varying from a chocolate to an olivaceous shade ; 

 head and neck, and sometimes (in A. pidus) the back, wing-coverts, and lower parts longitu- 

 dinally spotted or striped with white ; remiges and rectrices glossed with purple. 



1. A= scolopaceus.i White markings confined to the head and neck (concealed or alto- 



gether wanting on other portions).- Wing, 12.50-14.20 inches; tail, 7.60; culmen, 

 4.30-4.70 ; tarsus, 4.60-5.20. Hah. Eastern South America. 



2. A. pictus. White stripes extending over back, wing-coverts, and entire lower parts, 



except crissum. Wing, 11.00-1,3.00 ; tail, 5.90 ; culmen, 3.50-4.80 ; tarsus, 3.50-5.20. 

 Hab. West Indies, Florida, and Central America. 



1 Aramus scolopaceus. The Scolopaceous Coiu-lan ; Brazilian Courlan. 

 Courlan, ou Courliri, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. VII. 442. 

 Le Courlan, de Cayenne, Buff. PL Enl. 1770-1784, pi. 848. 

 Scolopaceous Heron, L.vxn. Synop. III. i. 1785, 102 (ex PI. Eul. 848). 

 Ardea scolopacca, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 647, no. 87 (ex Buff. & Lath. 1. c). 

 Arajniis scolopaceus, Yieill. Kouv. Diet. VIII. 1817, 301 ; Gal. Ois. XL 134, pi. 252. — AuD. 



Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, pi. 377 (not the descr.) ; B. Am. \. 1842, pi. 312 (not the descr.). — 



Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 657 (footnote). 

 Carau, Azara, Apunt. III. 1805, 202, no. 366. 

 Aramus carau, Vieill. N. D. VIII. 1817, 300. 

 PmUus ardeoides, Spix, Av. Bras. II. 1824, 72, pi. xci. 

 Rallus gigas, LiCHT. Verz. Doubl. 1823, 79. 

 Notherodius guarauna, Wagl. Syst. Av. 1827 (not Scolopax guarauna, LiXN.). 



