302 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Third Family, ARDEIDiE, or 

 Herons, 



have the bill more or less long, and generally much com- 

 pressed on the sides, with the culmen curved at the tip, 

 which is sometimes emarginated and acute ; the wings 

 moderate and rounded; the tail mostly short, and rounded 

 on the sides ; the tarsi lengthened and rather slender ; the 

 toes more or less long, and rather slender, with the outer toe 

 longer than the inner, and both united at their bases, the 

 hind toe more or less short, and generally placed on the 

 same level with the anterior toes. 



The Sub-Family, GRUIN^, or Cranes, 



have the bill more or less lengthened, straight, and strong, 

 with the tips of both mandibles pointed and equal in length ; 

 the nostrils placed in a deep groove, which extends beyond 

 the middle of the bill ; wings long, the tertials lengthened 

 and pendant ; the tail short and even ; the tarsi very long 

 and slender ; and the toes rather short. 



Genus GRUS, Linnseus. 

 Bill longer than the head, straight, both mandibles of 

 equal length, with the tips pointed, the sides compressed, the 

 basal part of the culmen flattened, and the apical part slightly 

 curved to the tip ; the nostrils placed in a broad deep nasal 

 groove, which reaches beyond the middle of the bill, with 

 the opening placed anteriorly, large, and closed posteriorly 

 by a membrane; win^s long, with the third and fourth quills 

 the longest, and the tertials lengthened and pendant ; tail 

 rather short ; tarsi very long, slender, and covered with 

 transverse scales ; toes rather short, the outer united at the 

 base to the middle one, the lateral ones equal, the hind toe 

 very short and elevated ; the claws short and strong. 



573. Grus Oarunculata. (Gm.) Cuv, Voi. s, p. 



332 ; Ardea Carunculata, Gmel. ; Lath. Syn., V. 82, 

 t. 78 ; Wattled Crane ; Grus Carunculata, Shaw, Vol. 

 11, p. 533 ; Ardea Palearis, Forst. Desc. Mam., p. 47. 

 General colour above, grey-slate, darkest on the back, at the 

 end of the wings, and top of the head ; neck pure white ; 

 the rest of the plumage black. In the male, the fore half of 

 the head is bare, wrinkled, and of a red colour ; in the 

 female this is much reduced in size, and the dark mark on 



