180 



Genus V.— ARAMUS, Viei/l COURLAN. 



Bill long, being double the length of the head, rather slender, but strong, 

 much compressed, straight, its breadth less before the nostrils than towards 

 the point; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight until towards the 

 end, then slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex in its whole length, 

 the sides nearly erect, more convex toward the extremity, the tip blunted, 

 the edges broad and obtuse for half their length, sharp but thick in the rest 

 of their extent; lower mandible slightly ascending at the base, then direct, 

 much compressed toward the tip, which is acute, the angle long and very 

 narrow, the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges obtuse, becoming sharp 

 towards the end; nasal groove nearly half the length of the bill. Nostrils 

 direct, linear, long. Head rather small, oblong, compressed; neck long and 

 slender; body ovato-oblong, much compressed. Feet very long, rather 

 stout; tibia bare in its lower half; tarsus long, compressed, anteriorly broadly 

 scutellate; toes long, rather slender; hind toe small; fourth considerably 

 longer than second; anterior toes divided to the base, scutellate. Claws of 

 moderate length, very slightly arched, compressed, tapering to a point. 

 Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath. Wings of moderate 

 length, very broad, concave, rounded; first short, falciform, with the inner 

 web broader toward the end; fourth quill longest; inner secondaries much 

 elongated. Tail short, broad, convex, rounded, of twelve broad rounded 

 feathers. Digestive organs as in the Rails and Gallinules. 



