Q6Q SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— ALECTOBIBES — GEUIFOBMES. 



ally of the mesozoic ArchcBopteryx ; they should probably constitute an order apart. Some 

 gigantic extinct birds belong in the ueigliborhood of the rails and coots. Apparently rail-like, 

 but probably more truly plover-like birds are the Ja^anas, FarridiB, noted for the length of the 

 toes, and especially of the claws ; they have a sharp spur on the wing. There are less than 

 12 species, usually referred to several genera, of various parts of the world ; one of them lately 

 ascertained to occur in our country. Finally, the Sun-birds, Helionnthida, are a small but 

 remarkable family of one or two genera and about four species of tropical America, Africa, and 

 southera Asia. They have been classed, on account of their lobate feet and a certain general 

 resemblance, ■\vith the grebes ; but the feet are like those of coots, and their whole structure 

 shows that they belong with the ralliform birds. 



Waiving consideration of certain disputed forms, the Alectorides may be ranged in two 

 series, suborders, or superfamilies, according as they are crane-hke or rail-hke. 



15. Suborder GRUIFOEMES : Cranes and theer AilLIES. 

 Represented in N. Am. by two families, Gruidai and Aramidce. 



47. Family GRUID.iE : Cranes. 



As already explained. Cranes are related to Rails in essential points of structure, though 

 more resembling Herons in their general aspect. They are all large birds, some being of im- 

 mense stature ; the legs and neck are extremely long (the latter with about 17 vertebrse) ; the 

 wings ample, but incised along posterior border, from shortness of the outer secondaries ; the 

 tail short, usually of 12 broad feathers. The head is generally, in part, naked and papillose or 

 wattled in tlie adult, with a growth of hair-hke feathers, or, in some cases, an upright tuft of 

 curiously bushy plumes. The general plumage is compact, in striking contrast to that of 

 Herons ; but the inner -wing-quills, in most eases, are enlarged and flowing. In some species, 

 the sternum is enlarged and hollowed to receive a fold of the windpipe, as in Swans, and some 

 of the Storks and Ibises (p. 202). BUI equalling or exceeding the head in length, straight, rather 

 slender but strong, compressed, contracted opposite the nostrils, obtusely pointed ; nasal fossae 

 short, broad, shallow ; nostrUs near the middle of the bill, large, broadly open and completely 

 pervious ; tibife naked for a great distance ; tarsi scutellate in front ; toes short, webbed at 

 base ; hallux very short, highly elevated ; inner anterior claw large. About 15 species of various 

 parts of the world ; only 3 of them American. Most of them fall in the genus Grus ; the 

 elegant " demoiselle " cranes of the Old World, Anthroxjoides (or Tetrapteryx) virgo and para- 

 discea, and the African Baleariea (or Geranarchus} pavonina, are the principal exceptions. 

 268. GRUS. (Lat. grus, fern., a crane.) Cranes. Of maximum size and length of neck and 

 legs ; color white or gray. Head without crest; more or less bare of feathers in adult, carun- 

 culate, with hair-like bristles ; forehead low. Character of bUl, legs, and wiugs, typically as 

 above said. Tail short, 12-feathered. Tarsus br<.>adly scutellate in front. Toes short, the 

 middle about third as long as tarsus ; inner rather exceeding outer, with enlarged claw. Inner 

 wing-quiUs lengthened, curved, pendent beyond primaries when the wing is folded. Nest on 



the gi'ound ; eggs few. 



Analysis of Species. 



Adult white, with black primaries. Nakedness extending backward in a point on top and side of 

 head americana 668 



Adults gray. Nakedness forked on top of head by a point of feathers, and not reaching on side below eye. 



Smaller: wing under 20.00; bill 4.00 or less; tarsus 8.00 or less canadensis 669 



Larger: wing oyer 20,00; bill 5.00 or more; tarsus 9.00 nr more prateiisis 670 



668. G. america'na. White Craxe. Whooping Crane. Adult with the bare part of the head 

 extending in a point on the occiput above, on each side behjw the eyes, and very hairy. BOl 

 very stout, gonys convex, ascending, that part of the under mandible as deep as the upper 



