CRANE. GRALLATORES. GRUS. 3 
Grus of Lixnxus may be considered typical ; this family ai- 
so contains the genus Psophia, closely connected with An- 
thropotdes in the form and shortness of the bill, and which 
also, in plumage and other particulars, indicates its affinity 
to the Struthionide; and the genus Cariama of Brisson 
(Dicholophus of Tut1cEr) also appears to be in its natural 
situation in this family ; and it is through some of the mem- 
bers of this group that a more immediate link with the Cha- 
radriade (which meet the present family at the correspond- 
ing extreme of the order) is effected. 
Genus GRUS. CRANE. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill longer than the head, straight, strong, laterally com- 
pressed, the tip convexo-conical, pointed. Mandibles of 
equal length and height ; culmen, from the base to one-half of 
the length of the bill, flat and indistinct, from thence to the 
tip rounded ; nasal furrow reaching rather beyond the imid- 
dle of the bill, broad and deep. Tomia straight, parallel, 
smooth, except near the tip, where they are slightly and fine- 
ly serrated. Ascending angle of the lower mandible with a 
rounded culmen. 
Nostrils placed horizontally in the anterior part of the fur- 
row, large, concave, and pervious, posteriorly closed by the 
membrane. 
Tongue broad, fleshy, and sharp-pointed. 
Legs long, with great part of the tibia naked. Feet four- 
toed ; toes strong and rather short, the middle one about one- 
third the length of the tarsus, and joined to the exterior by a 
membrane reaching almost as far as the second phalange ; the 
interior one nearly free. Hind toe short, dependent, articu- 
lated upon the tarsus, above the plane of the others. Claws 
short, strong, sharp, faleated, and entire. Front of the tarsus 
and toes scutellated; under part of the toes roughly reticu- 
lated, 
Am 
