GRUINJE. GRUS. 35 



extent ; tarsus moderately compressed, anteriorly scutel- 

 late, reticulate on the sides ; toes four ; the first very 

 small and somewhat elevated, the anterior rather short, 

 stout, scutellate above, somewhat flattened beneath, the 

 second a little shorter than the fourth ; claws short, little 

 compressed, obtuse. Plumage full, rather compact ; 

 wings very long, ample, convex, rather pointed ; the in- 

 ner secondaries elongated and decurved ; tail short, 

 rounded. 



GENUS LXXXIV. GRUS. CRANE. 



Bill considerably longer than the head, stout, straight, 

 tapering, compressed, obtusely pointed ; upper mandible with 

 the dorsal line straight, until near the end, when it is decli- 

 nate and somewhat convex, the ridge rather broad and nearly 

 flat for two-thirds, then convex, the sides sloping, the edges 

 strong, sharp, straight, without notch, the tip narrowed, thiii- 

 edged, rather obtuse ; nasal groove large, half the length of 

 the bill, filled by a bare membrane ; lower mandible with 

 the angle very narrow and extending to the middle, the 

 dorsal line ascending, almost straight, the sides of the crura 

 concave, the edges sharp and strong, the tip narrow, rather 

 obtuse ; gape-line straight, commencing opposite the base of 

 the ridge. Mouth very narrow ; palate convex, with three 

 longitudinal anterior series of strong horny papilla ; upper 

 mandible internally moderately concave, with a prominent- 

 median line ; tongue rather long, emarginate and papillate 

 at the base, trigonal, acute ; oesophagus rather narrow, with- 

 out crop ; stomach a very strong gizzard, having powerful 

 lateral muscles, and a dense rugous epithelium ; intestine of 

 moderate length, rather narrow ; two oblong coeca. Trachea 

 moderately flattened, curved and entering a cavity in the 

 sternum, whence it is reflected before passing into the tho- 

 rax ; bronchi wide. Nostrils linear, direct, submedial. Eyes 

 of moderate size ; eyelids bare. Aperture of ear small, 

 roundish. Legs very long ; tibia bare about a fourth of its 

 length, reticulated ; tarsus very long, slender, moderately 

 compressed, with numerous curved scutella before, small 



