Oeder ALECTORIDES. 



cranes, rails, etc. 



The Akctoridcs are a tolerably well-defiued group of birds, related somewhat 

 closely to the Limicolce', but very distinct from the fferodiones, to which some 

 of the forms (more especially the Gruidce) bear a teleological resemblance. Typical 

 Families of this Order are the Gruidce (Cranes), Aramidce (Courlans), and Rcdlidcc 

 (Rails), all represented in North America. In addition to these Families, South 

 America possesses several others which have been placed here, but whether 

 rightly or not, we cannot say. These extralimital families are the Eurypygidce (Sun 

 Bitterns), Hcliwnithidce, Cariamida' (Cariamas), and Psophiidce (Trumpeters). 



Tlie typical members of the grou]i are pra?cocial and ptilopsedic. 



The Families of this Order which come within the scope of the present work 

 are the following : — 



A. Size small or medium ; head normany feathered or with a frontal shield ; middle toe nearly 



as long as the tarsus ; hallux well developed (nearly as long as the iirst joint of the 



middle toe), nearly incumbent. {Ralli.) 

 Rallidae. Size medium to very small ; outer primary longer than the sixth, very broad ; 



second nearly or quite equal to the longest. Rectrices almost rudimentary, soft, nearly 



hidden by the coverts. Bill not curved to one side at tip (usually shorter than the 



tarsus). 

 Aramidae. Size medium or rather large ; outer primai-y shorter than seventh, the inner 



wcl) very narrow, except at end ; second quill much shorter than the longest (tifth). 



Rectrices well developed, firm, twelve in number. Bill curved to one side at tip, equal 



to or longer than the tarsus ; inner secondaries broad, reaching to end of primaries, their 



webs partially decomposed. 



B. Size large ; head partly naked (except in young), or with ornamental plumes ; middle toe 



less than half the tarsus ; hallux small, much elevated. (Grues.) 

 G-ruidse. [Characters as above.] 



Family EALLTD J5. — The Rails, Gallinules, and Coots. 



Chae. Small or medium sized wading or swimming birds, with compressed 

 body, very long toes, wliicli are sometimes (in the Coots) lobed along the edges, 

 short, rounded, concave wings, and very muscular thighs. 



The brief diagnosis given above is sufficient to distinguish the Rails, of whatever 

 sub-family, from the Courlans and Cranes, their only near allies. The typical Rails 

 (Rallince) are of very small to me^lium size, the typical genus, Ralhis, being char- 

 acterized particularly by a lengthened slender bill, while other genera, as Pori^ana 



