CLASS AVES: ORDER ALECTORIDES. 



149 



ORDER ALECTORIDES. 



Grruidse.— The Wliooping Crane (see Fig. 253) is princi- 

 pally confined to the Mississippi Valley. It seeks its food in 



Convoluted Trachea of the Crane. 



the wild uplands, feeding upon insects and plants. About 

 thirteen inches of the windpipe are twisted up in a hollow of 

 the breast-bone, thus giving to 

 the voice a sonorous, trumpet-like 

 tone. 



Rallidae. — The Eails have 

 more or less pervious nostrils; 

 long, slender toes; a compressed 

 body and short tail. The Vir- 

 ginia Rail * is a type of the genus 

 Eallus, which contains about 

 twenty species. The Purple Gal- 

 linule, abundant in the Southern, 

 but accidental in the ISTorthern 



* Except in beinp: smaller it is almost iden- 

 tical in form and color with H. elegafis. thus 

 showing the value of size as a specific and dis- 

 tinctive character. 



SaUus virgirdanus^ 

 Virginia Rail. -J. 



