539 
ARAMUS. COURLAN. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum oculosversusfissum, 
lateratim compressum ; 
mandibula superiore paulo 
sulcata, versus apicem in- 
curvata ; inferiore subtus 
angulosa. 
Nares in medio maxillae sitae. 
Pedes tetradactyli, digiti ex- 
teriores basi membrana con- 
nexi. 
Beak cleft towards the eye, 
its sides compressed ; the 
upper mandible slightly 
sulcated, towards the tip 
bent down ; the lower be- 
neath angulated, 
Nostrils placed in the middle 
of the beak. 
Feet four-toed, the outer toes 
connected by a membrane 
at the base. 
Aramus. Vieillot. 
Grus. Cuv. 
Ardea. Gmel., Lath. 
There is but one species belonging to this genus, 
which is distinguished by its peculiar beak ; this 
part is rather stout at the base, and nearly straight, 
but inclines downward toward the tip : on the 
upper mandible is a long furrow, two-thirds of the 
length of the beak, in which the nostrils are placed ; 
these appear to be only a slit. The manners of 
the species are unknown. 
