82 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Order ALECTORIDES.— The Cranes, Courlans, Rails, Gal- 



LINULES, AND COOTS. 



The Alectorides are a tolerably well-defined group of birds, 

 related somewhat closely to the Limicolce, but very distinct 

 from the Herodiones, to which some of the forms (more es- 

 pecially the Gruidm) bear a teleological resemblance. Typical 

 families of this Order are the Gruidm (Cranes), Aramidce (Cour- 

 lans), and Rallidce (Rails), all represented in North America. 

 In addition to these families, South America possesses several 

 others which have been placed here, but whether rightly or not, 

 we cannot say. These extralimital families are the Eurypygidm 

 (Sun Bitterns), Cariamidw (Cariamas), and PsophUdm (Trum- 

 peters). 



The typical members of the group are prsecocial and ptilopeedic. 



The North American families are the following: 



A. Size small or medium; head normally feathered or with a frontal shield; middle toe 

 nearly as long as the tarsus; hallux well developed (nearly as long as the first joint 

 of the middle toe), nearly incumbent. [Ralli.) 



Rallidae. Size medium to very small; outer primary longer than the sixth, very broad ; 

 second nearly or quite equal to the longest. Rectrices almost rudimentary, soft, 

 nearly hidden by the coverts. Bill not curved to one side at tip (usually shorter 

 than the tarsus). 

 Aramidae. Size medium or rather large ; outer primary shorter than seventh, the inner 

 • web very narrow, except at end ; second quill much shorter than the longest 



(fifth). Rectrices well developed, firm, twelve in number. Bill curved to one side 

 at tip, equal to or longer than the tarsus; inner secondaries broad, reaching to 

 end of primaries, their webs partially decomposed. 



B. Size large; head partly naked (except in young), or with ornamental plumes; middle 

 toe less than half the tarsus; hallux small, much elevated. (G-raes.) 



Gruidae. [Characters as^above.] 



