82 BIBDS OP ILLINOIS. 



Order ALECTORIDBS.— The Cranes, Courlans, Rails, Gal- 

 LiNULES, and Coots. 



The Alectorides are a tolerably well-defined group of birds, 

 related somewhat closely to the lAmicolcB, but very distinct 

 ^rom the HerodAones, to which some of the forms (more • es- 

 pecially the Oruidm) bear a teleological resemblance. Typical 

 families of this Order are the Gruidm (Cranes), Aramidm (Cour- 

 lans), and RalUdm (Rails), all represented in North America. 

 In addition to these families. South America possesses several 

 others which have been placed here, but whether rightly or not, 

 we cannot say: These extralimital families are the Eurypygidm 

 (Sun Bitterns), OcmamiidoB (Cariamas), and Psophiidoe (Trum- 

 peters) . 



The typical members of the group are praecocial and ptilopsedic. 



The North American families, are the following : 



A. Size small or medium; head normially feathered or with a frontal shield; middle toe 

 nearly as long as the tarsus ; hallux well developed (nearly as long as the first joint 

 of the middle toe), nearly incumbent. {.Ralli.) 



BalUdse, Size medium to very small; outer primary longer than the sixth, very broad ; 

 second nearly or auite equal to the longest. Bectrices almost rudimentary, soft, 

 nearly hidden by the coverts. Bill not curved to one side at tip (usually shorter 

 than the tarsus). 



^amidse. Size medium or rather large ; outer primary shorter than seventh, the inner 



' web very narrow, except at end ; second auill much shorter than the longest 



(fifth). Eeotrioes well developed, firm, twelve in number. Bill curved to one side 



attip, eqiualtoor longer than the tarsus; 'inner secondaries broad, reaching to 



end of primaries, their webs partially decomposed. 



B. Size large ; head partly naked (except in young), or with ornamental plumes ; middle 

 toe less than half the tarsus; hallux small, much elevated. {Grues.) 



Ornidee. [Characters asjabove.] 



