Order  VII.  GRALLiE. 
Family  II.  ARDEID^! 
The  second  Subfamily, 
GRUINiE,  or  Cranes, 
have  the  Bill  more  or  less  lengthened,  straight,  strong,  with  the  tips  of  both  mandibles  pointed  and  equal 
in  length ;  the  Nostrils  placed  in  a  deep  groove,  which  extends  beyond  the  middle  of  the  bill ;  the  Wings 
long,  and  the  tertials  lengthened  and  pendent ;  the  Tail  short  and  even ;  the  Tarsi  very  long  and 
slender ;  and  the  Toes  rather  short. 
Grus  Linn.* 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  both  mandibles  of  equal  length,  with  the  tips  pointed  ;  the  sides 
compressed,  the  basal  part  of  the  culmen  flattened,  and  the  apical  part  slightly  curved  to  the  tip  ;  the 
nostrils  placed  in  a  broad  deep  nasal  groove  which  reaches  beyond  the  middle  of  the  bill,  with  the 
opening  placed  anteriorly,  large,  and  closed  posteriorly  by  a  membrane.  Wings  long,  with  the  third 
and  fourth  quills  the  longest,  and  the  tertials  lengthened  and  pendent.  Tail  rather  short.  Tarsi  very 
long,  slender,  and  covered  with  transverse  scales.  Toes  rather  short,  the  outer  united  at  the  base  to  the 
middle  one,  the  lateral  ones  equal ;  the  hind  toe  very  short  and  elevated  ;  the  claws  short  and  strong. 
These  large  birds  are  usually  found  on  extensive  plains,  open  ground  under  cultivation,  marshes,  or  the  muddy  flats 
of  the  sea  shore.  They  regularly  migrate  to  the  warmer  parts  of  the  world  during  autumn  and  winter,  but  in  summer 
they  retire  to  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  to  breed.  Their  flights  are  performed  during  the  night  in  large  flocks, 
generally  headed  by  a  leader,  who  is  followed  by  the  remainder  in  two  diverging  lines,  flying  at  a  great  elevation,  and 
uttering  during  stormy  weather  loud  cries,  which  are  distinctly  heard  though  the  birds  are  invisible.  They  find 
great  difficulty  in  rising  from  the  ground,  first  flying  low  and  heavily,  and  after  a  time  rising  in  the  air  spirally  to  a 
great  height,  flying  around  in  large  circles,  as  if  reconnoitring  the  country  to  a  vast  extent  for  fresh  quarters.  When 
wounded  they  possess  great  courage  in  defending  themselves  from  the  attacks  of  man,  and  have  been  known  to  inflict 
very  severe  wounds  with  the  bill.  They  feed  on  grain,  seeds,  worms,  and  insects,  and  also  swallow  mice  and  other 
small  animals,  reptiles,  and  fish.  The  nest  is  usually  made  amongst  the  long  herbage  of  marshy  places,  and  is  raised 
above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  sometimes  to  the  height  of  the  body  when  standing,  composed  of  grasses  and  reeds,  &c, 
lined  on  the  top  with  soft  materials.  They  sometimes  form  their  nests  on  the  tops  of  ruins  and  houses.  The  female 
deposits  two  eggs,  over  which  each  sex  alternately  stands  while  the  other  is  engaged  in  watching. 
1.  G.  cinerea  Bechst.  PI.  enl.  769.,  Gould's  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  270. 
—  Ardea  Grus  Linn. ;  Grus  vulgaris  Pall. 
2.  G.  leucogeranos  Pall.  It.  ii.  714.  30. 1. 1.,  Zoogr.  ii.  103.  t.  54. 
—  Ardea  gigantea  Gmel.  Reise  ii.  180.  t  21.,  Gould's  B.  of  Eur. 
pi.  271.,  PL  col.  467. 
3.  G.  leucauchen  Temm.  PI.  col.  44<). 
4.  G.  monacha  Temm.  PI.  col  555. 
5.  G.  carunculata  (Gmel.)  Vieill.  Lath.  Syn.  v.  82.  t.  78.  — 
Ardea  palearis  Forst.  Desc.  Mam.  p.  47.,  Icon.  ined.  t.  115. 
6.  G.  americana  (Linn.)  Briss.  PI. enl.  88,0.,  Edwards's  Birds, 
pi.  132.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pl.  64.  f.  3.  —  Grus  Struthio  Wagl.; 
Ardea  canadensis  Linn.,  Edwards's  Birds,  pl.  133.  ;  Grus  polio- 
phiea  Wagl.  ;  Grus  mexicana  Briss.  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pl.  226". 
261. 
7.  G.  Antigone  (Linn.)  Edwards's  Birds,  pl.  45.  —  Grus  orien- 
talis  Frankl.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  256.  ? 
8.  G.  torqnata  Vieill.  Pl.  enl.  865.  —  Ardea  Antigone  var.  ft 
Lath. 
*  This  division  was  first  established  by  Linmcus  (Systema  Naturcv)  in  1735  ;  but  I  had  by  mistake  confounded  his  type,  and  proposed 
in  its  place  Megalornis  in  1841. 
