Vv GRUIFORMES: RALLIDAE 
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On 
Order X. GRUIFORMES. 
The Gruiformes, which le between the Galliformes and the 
Charadriiformes, compose a somewhat heterogeneous Order, which 
includes forms so different as the Rallidae (Rails), Gruidae 
(Cranes), Aramidae (Limpkins), Psophiidae (Trumpeters), Carzva- 
midae (Seriema and Chunia), Ofididae (Bustards), Rhinochetidae 
(Kagu), Lurypygidae (Sun-bitterns), and Feliornithidae (Fin- 
foots). Of these a large number are Waders, but the Land- 
Rail, the Wekas, the Kagu, the Bustards, and others, cannot be 
classed in this category. All agree in having no true crop, a 
tracheo-bronchial syrinx, and an elevated hallux; while the 
front toes are never completely webbed, though nearly so in 
Heliornis ; the nares, moreover, are pervious, except in Riinochetus. 
In the last-named the condition of the newly-hatched young is 
unknown, in Heliornis they are said to be naked at first, but in 
the remainder of the group they are covered with simple down. 
In structure the nine Famihes differ widely, a fact which would 
seem a strong argument against combining them under one head ; 
but the aggregate of such points must be considered, and in any 
linear system the relationships within every Order cannot possibly 
be equally close. The present arrangement does not differ greatly 
from that adopted by Mr. Sclater,! wherein he accepted the 
names Alectorides and Fulicariae, used by Nitzsch, but made 
the former to consist of the Aramidae, Eurypygidae, Gruidae, 
Psophiidae, Cariamidae, and Otididae, and the latter of the 
Rallidae and Heliornithidae. Some writers, both modern and 
ancient, have placed the Otididae in the Limicoline group. 
Fam. I. Rallidae.—The Rails constitute a somewhat general- 
ized and very homogeneous Family, found in almost all parts 
of the world. The body is peculiarly compressed—enabling ‘them 
to move with ease in dense vegetation—while the keel of the 
sternum is especially reduced in those flightless forms for which the 
group is remarkable. The strong bill varies in dimensions, being 
long in typical Rails, shorter and thicker in Crakes, decidedly curved 
in Himantornis, and reaching its maximum size among the Galli- 
nules in Porphyrio and Notornis, where it is subconical. A horny 
shield is present upon the forehead in Megacrex, Habroptila, the 
Gallinules and the Coots, which is usually rounded or truncated 
1 This, 1880, p. 408. 
