Order GRUIFORMES. 



Family GRUID^ or CRANES. 



Although the Cranes comprise such a small and compact 

 family, authorities are by no means agreed as to their affinities, 

 some associating them with the Ibises and Plovers, others with 

 the Bustards. Their sternum contains no notch on the posterior 

 margin. In the modification of their cranial bones they are 

 schizognathous ; nasals schizorhinal. In their pterylosis, myology, 

 and digestive organs they show great affinity with the Rails and 

 Bustards. 



The external characteristics of the Cranes are their long legs, 

 neck, and bill (which is somewhat typical of the Plovers); long 

 pointed wings, lengthened and plumed innermost secondaries; 

 short tail. Hind toe short, and considerably elevated above the 

 plane of the rest. Primaries ten in number ; rectrices twelve. 

 Moult double; young hatched covered with down, and able to 

 run soon after they leave the shell. 



Number about sixteen species ; cosmopohtan continentally, 

 with the exception of the Neotropical region. 



