AVES 301 



The Crane-like Birds (Gruiformes) 



The majority of the members of this order are waders, but some, 

 such as the bustards and the wekas, are decidedly terrestrial. The 

 group does not hold together as well as some of the others, and prob- 

 ably should be divided into two orders. Seven families are distin- 

 guished, represented by the following types: — rails, gaUinules, and 

 coots; bustards; the kagu; sun-bitterns; and finfoots. 



The common sandhill crane is probably the most abundant and 

 conspicuous example of the larger Gruiformes in America. Coues, 

 much impressed by their appearance in migration flight, writes of 

 them as follows: — 



"Such ponderous bodies, moving with slow-beating wings, 

 give a great idea of momentum from mere weight — of force of 

 motion without swiftness; for they plod along heavily, seeming 

 to need every inch of their ample wings to sustain themselves. 

 One would think they must soon alight fatigued with such exer- 

 tion, but the raucous cries continue, and the birds fly on for 

 miles along the tortuous stream, in Indian file, under some trusty 

 leader, who croaks his hoarse orders, implicitly obeyed." 

 The great bustard is the largest European bird, being about 

 forty-five inches long and weighing nearly thirty pounds. In general 

 appearance it is not unlike a goose, but has a head and bill more Uke 

 that of a crane. Sun-bitterns are rather small birds something like a 

 rail and a heron, but with rather short legs, a very thin neck and large 

 head with long pointed bill . When at rest the head is sunk down on 

 the body so as to give it the appearance of being practically neckless. 

 The finfoot tribe consists of birds about whose relationship there is a 

 good deal of controversy; some authorities placing them among the 

 grebes, on account of the grebe-like head and bill. The rails are 

 rather ordinary birds, so far as appearance goes; but they are of in- 

 terest because they are believed to be intermediate between the two 

 orders Galliformes and Charadiiformes. In general appearance they 

 remind one of both the quail and the plover. 



The Plover-like Birds (Charadriiformes) 



This order is considerably more homogeneous than the last, but 

 it is diflJcult to select a good popular name for the group; for the 

 gulls and pigeons are in truth not very "plover-hke." The plovers 



