134 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Order PALUDICOLiE. — The Cranes, Rails, 



AND CoURLANS. (Page 2.) 



Families. 



a\ Size veiy large (wing 17.50, or more) ; head partly naked and warty in adult, or 

 else with ornamental plumes ; hind toe small, much elevated ; middle toe 

 less than half as long as the tarsus. (Suborder Grues.) 



Gruidse. (Page 134.) 



a?. Size medium to very small (wing less than 14.50) ; head entirely feathered, or 



else with only a frontal " shield" naked ; hind toe lengthened (nearly as long 



as the first division of the middle toe), inserted nearly on a level with the 



anterior toes ; middle toe nearly as long as the tarsus. (Suborder Ralli.) 



b^. Wing 11.00-14.20 ; first quill shorter than seventh, its inner web very narrow, 



except near end ; tail-feathers well developed, firm. 



Aramidae. (Page 135.) 



b^. Wing less than 10.00 ; first quill longer than sixth, its inner web normal ; 



tail-feathers almost rudimentary (nearly hidden by the coverts), soft ; 



bill and feet very variable in form Rallidse. (Page 136.) 



Family GRUIDiE.— The Cranes. (Page 134.) 



Genera. 

 (Characters same as those given for the Family) Grus. (Page 134.) 



Genus GRUS Pallas. (Page 134, pi. XXXIX., figs. 1, 2.) 



Species. 



{Nest on ground in marsh or wet meadow. Eggs pale olive or olive-buffy, 

 spotted with brown, reddish brown, and purplish gray.) 



a\ Tarsus 11.00, or more; bill stout, its depth through the base about one-fourth 

 the length of the culmen ; distance from posterior end of nostril to base of 

 upper mandible much more than one-half the distance from anterior border 

 of nostril to tip of upper mandible. Adult with plumage white, and cheeks 

 naked. 



Adult: Plumage pure white, the quills black. Young: General color 

 white, but this overlaid by patches of light cinnamon or rusty, the 

 upper parts chiefly of this color; head entirely feathered. Length 



