34 GRUIN^E. 



and slender ; tibia bare to a great extent ; tarsus long, 

 reticulated all round, but in some instances scutellate an- 

 teriorly ; toes short or moderate, thickish, flattened be- 

 neath, the anterior spreading and webbed at the base ; 

 the hind toe wanting or small, and more or less elevated ; 

 claws short and obtuse. Plumage moderate, the feathers 

 with a large plumule. Wings large, generally pointed, 

 but varying in form ; tail short. 



All the species feed on insects and worms, and occa- 

 sionally on vegetable substances, their digestive organs 

 being adapted for both sorts of food. They nestle on the 

 ground, laying from three to five eggs. The young, at 

 first densely covered with down, run about presently after 

 birth, and conceal themselves by crouching. The males 

 are larger than the females, and sometimes differently 

 coloured, at least in part. Most of the species are in 

 some degree migratory. 



FAMILY XXXII. GRUINJE. GRUINE BIRDS, 

 OR CRANES. 



Birds of large size, having the body ovate and com- 

 pressed ; the neck elongated ; the head rather small, ob- 

 long, and somewhat rounded above. Bill about the length 

 of the head, straight, depressed at the base, compressed 

 toward the end, the tip rather blunt ; upper mandible 

 with the dorsal line nearly straight, a little declinate at 

 the end, the ridge flattened at the base, rounded toward 

 the end, the nasal groove large ; lower mandible with the 

 angle long and very narrow, the tip slender ; gape-line 

 commencing much anterior to the eyes. Nostrils linear, 

 direct, in the fore part of the nasal groove. Eyes of mo- 

 derate size, eyelids bare. Aperture of ear rather small, 

 roundish. Legs very long and slender ; tibia bare to a great 



