]34 NORTH AMEUICiy BlIiDS. 



Order PALUDICOL^. — The Cranes, Rails, 



AND COURLANS. (Page 2.) 



Families. 



a'. Sizo vciy largo (wing 17.50, or more) ; bead partly naked and wart}' in adult, or 

 else with ornamental plumes ; bind toe small, mueb elevated ; middle too 

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



Gruidae. (Page 134.) 



a'. Sizo medium to very small (wing less than 14.50) ; head eniirelj- feathered, or 



else with only a frontal " shield" naked ; bind too 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 lialli.) 



6'. 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 seventh (usually 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. (Pago 136.) 



Family GRUIDAE.— 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. 

 {Ne.'it on ground in marsh or wet meadow. Eijgs 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 tho distance from anterior border 

 of nostril to tip of upper mandible. A'lult with plumage white, and cheeks 

 naked. 



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

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

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



