98 BIKDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Family GRXTID-ffi.— The Cranes. 



The diagnosis of this family has ah-eady been given on page 

 82. The species are all of very large size, and inhabit grassy 

 plains, as well as marshes. The bill is moderatel}' long; the 

 nostrils broad and pervious, the nasal groove extending but 

 little beyond them. The legs are long, but the toes are short; 

 the hind toe is very short and much elevated, the claw scarcely 

 touching the ground. 



The genera are few in number, but one, Gri"<, belonging to 

 North America. 



Genus GRXJS Pallas. 



Grus Pall. Misc. Zool. 1766, 66. Tyi>e. Ardea oi'iis Linn. 



Chak. Bill lengthened, straight, the upper mandible only slightly decurved at the ex- 

 treme tip; the commissure and other outlines straight. Nasal groove very large and open, 

 e.xtending over the basal two thirds of the bill. Nostrils broadly open, pervious ; the ante- 

 rior extremity half way from the tip of bill to eye. The upper half of the head naked, warty, 

 but with short hairs. 



Legs much lengthened; toes short, hardly more than one third the tarsus. Inner toe 

 rather longer, its claw much larger than the outer. Hind toe elevated, short. Toes con- 

 nected at base by membrane. Tarsi broadly soutellate anteriorly. Tertials longer than 

 primaries, decurved : first quill not much shorter than second. Tail of twelve feathers. 



Sj/ztupaiis of tSpcct'cJf. 



A. Adult plumage white, the primaries blaok;oheeks naked. Bill very thick, the gonys 



strongly convex. 

 1. 6. amerioana. 



B. Adult plumage grayish or plumbeous, the primaries slate-color; eheeks always feath- 



ered. Bill slender, longer than middle toe; gonys straight. 

 •-'. G, oanadenais. Wing. 17.75-19.ii0 inches; eulmen. 2. '.HKi.70; tarsus. 6.70-8.00: middle toe 



2.80-2.'.l5. Ilalj. Alaska to New Mexico and Texas, breeding (exclusively ?) far 



northward. 

 3. 6. mexioana. Wing. 22.00 inches; eulmen, .'i.OOHl.OO; tarsus. 10.00; middle toe. S.50 or 



more. Ilah. Western United States and Oulf States from Washington to 



Florida. 



