6Q6 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — ALECTORIDES — GR UIFOBMES. 



ally of the mesozoic Arclioeoptenjx ; they should probably constitute an order apart. Some 

 gigantic extinct birds belong in the neighborhood of the rails and coots. Apparently rail-like, 

 but probably more truly plover-like birds are the JaQanas, Parridte, noted for the length of the 

 toes, and especially of the claws ; they have a sharp spur on the wing. There are less than 

 12 species, usually referred to several genera, of various parts of the world ; one of them lately 

 ascertained to occur in our country. Finally, the Sun-birds, Heliornithidm, are a small but 

 remarkable family of one or two genera and about four species of tropical America, Africa, and 

 southern Asia. They have been classed, on account of their lobate feet and a certain general 

 resemblance, with the gi-ebes ; but the feet are like those of coots, and their whole structure 

 shows that they belong with the ralhform birds. 



Waiving consideration of certain disputed forms, the Alectorides may be ranged in two 

 series, suborders, or superfamilies, according as they are crane-like or rail-like. 



15. Suborder GRUIFORMES : Cranes and their Allies. 

 Represented in N. Am. by two families, Gruidcs and Aramidce. 



4rr. Family GRUID^ : Cranes. 



As already explained, Cranes are related to Rails in essential points of structure, though 

 more resembling Herons in their general aspect. They are all large birds, some being of im- 

 mense stature ; the legs and neck are extremely long (the latter with about 17 vertebrae) ; the 

 wings ample, but incised along posterior border, fi-om shortness of the outer secondaries ; the 

 tail short, usually of 12 broad feathers. The head is generally, in part, naked and papillose or 

 wattled in the adult, with a growth of hair-hke feathers, or, in some cases, an upright tuft of 

 curiously bushy plumes. The general plumage is compact, in striking contrast to that of 

 Herons ; but the inner wing-quills, in most cases, are enlarged and flowing. In some species, 

 the sternum is enlarged and hollowed to receive a fold of the windpipe, as in Swans, and some 

 of the Storks and Ibises (p. 202). Bill equalling or exceeding the head in length, straight, rather 

 slender but strong, compressed, contracted opposite the nostrils, obtusely pointed ; nasal fossae 

 short, broad, shallow ; nostrils near the middle of the bill, large, broadly open and completely 

 pervious ; tibite naked for a great distance ; tarsi scutellate in front ; toes short, webbed at 

 base ; hallux very short, highly elevated ; inner anterior claw large. About 15 species of various 

 parts of the world ; only 3 of them American. Most of them fall in the genus Grus ; the 

 elegant " demoiselle " cranes of the Old World, Anthropotdes (or Tetrapteryx) virgo and para- 

 discea, and the African Balearica (or Geranarchus) pavonina, are the principal exceptions. 

 GRUS. (Lat. grus, fem., a crane.) Cranes. Of maximum size and length of neck and 

 legs ; color white or gray. Head Avithout crest ; more or less bare of feathers in adult, carun- 

 eulate, with hair-like bristles ; forehead low. Character of bill, legs, and wings, typically as 

 above said. Tail short, 12-feathered. Tarsus broadly scutellate in front. Toes short, the 

 middle about third as long as tarsus ; inner rather exceeding outer, with enlarged claw. Inner 

 wing-quills lengthened, curved, pendent beyond primaries when the wing is folded. Nest on 



the ground ; eggs few. 



Analysis of Species. 



Adult white, with black primaries, ^Nakedness extending backward in a point on top and side of 

 bead americana 668 



Adults gray. Nakedness forked on top of hoad by a point of feathers, and not reaching on side below eye. 



Smaller: wing under 20.00; bill 4.00 or less; tarsus 8.00 or less canadensis 669 



Larger: wing over 20.00; bill 5.00 or more; tarsus 9.00 or more pratensis 670 



G. america'na. White Crane. Whooping Crane. Adult with the bare part of the head 

 extending in a point on the occiput above, on each side below the eyes, and very hairy. Bill 

 very stout, gonys convex, ascending, that part of the under mandible as deep as the upper 



