332 AEAMID^. 



Suborder ALECTORIDES. 



The members of this Suborder have schizorhinal nostrils, in which respect they 

 differ from the Fulicarise, the nostrils in the latter being holorhinal ; and Mr. Lydekker 

 further points out as osteological features that the angle of the mandible is always 

 truncated and that the humerus never has an ectepicondylar process. 



The Families included in the Alectorides are all very distinct and easily recognized. 

 They consist of the Aramidae, Eurypygidae, Ehinochetidae, Mesoenatidae (Mesitidae), 

 Gruidae, Psophiidae, and Otididae. Of these only one, viz. the Gruidae, is found in both 

 the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, the Otididae, Mesoenatidae, and Rhinochetidae are 

 purely Old- World forms, and the Psophiidae, Eurypygidae, and Aramidae are Neotropical, 

 with the exception that the latter extends to Florida in the Nearctic Region. 



Pam. ARAMID^. 



The species of this Family have such a pronounced general resemblance to the 

 Rails that it is somewhat remarkable to find that they belong to a different Suborder. 

 The osteology and anatomy, however, leave no doubt upon this point. The palate 

 is schizognathous, the nostrils holorhinal ; there are twelve rectrices, and the sternum, 

 like that of the Cranes, has no posterior notches. In the form of the bill the Aramidae 

 resemble the Rails, this organ being very long and curved, and having the nostrils 

 perforated and linear, situated in a deep nasal groove, which extends for two-thirds of 

 the length of the bill, while a very distinct groove runs along the sides of the mandible 

 for two-thirds of its length. The first primary is sickle-shaped, narrowed and incised 

 for the basal two-thirds and spatulate at the tip. The oil-gland is tufted. 



The family includes but a single genus. 



ARAMUS. 



Aramus, Vieill. Analyse, p. 58 (1816) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 237 (1894). 



The characters of the genus Aramus are the same as those of the family. Two 

 species are known, viz., A. jaictus of Southern Florida, Central America, and the West 

 Indies, and A. scolopaceus, which inhabits Guiana, Venezuela, and Brazil. 



In habits these birds resemble the Rails, and they affect similar localities. The 

 nest, composed of rushes, is placed in a marsh, and the eggs are ten or twelve in 

 number, of a dull white colour, with blotches of pale brown and purple. 



