666 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — ALECTOBIDES — GB UIFOBMES. 
ally of the mesozoic Archoeopteryx ; they should probably constitute an order apart. Some 
gigantic extinct birds belong in the neighborhood of the rails and coots. Apparently rail-like, 
but probably more truly plover-like birds are the Ja9anas, Parridm, noted for the length of the 
toes, and especially of the claws ; they have a sharp spur on the wing. There are less than 
12 species, usually referred to several genera, of various parts of the world ; one of them lately 
ascertained to occur in our country. Finally, the Sun -birds, Heliornitliidce, are a small but 
remarkable family of one or two genera and about four species of tropical America, Africa, and 
southern Asia. They have been classed, on account of their lobate feet and a certain general 
resemblance, with the grebes ; but the feet are like those of coots, and their whole structure 
shows that they belong with the ralliform birds. 
Waiving consideration of certain disputed forms, the Alectorides may be ranged in two 
series, suborders, or superfamilies, according as they are crane-like or rail-like. 
15. Suborder GRUIFOKMES : Cranes and their Allies. 
Represented in N. Am. by two families, Gruidce and Aramidce. 
47. Family GRUID.iE : Cranes. 
As already explained. Cranes are related to Rails in essential points of structure, though 
more resembling Herons in their general aspect. They are all large birds, some being of im- 
mense stature 5 the legs and neck are extremely long (the latter with about 17 vertebra3) ; the 
wings ample, but incised along posterior border, from shortness of the outer secondaries ; the 
tail short, usually of 12 broad feathers. The head is generally, in part, naked and papillose or 
wattled in the adult, with a growth of hair-like feathers, or, in some cases, an upright tuft of 
curiously bushy plumes. The general plumage is compact, in striking contrast to that of 
Herons ; but the inner wing-quills, in most cases, are enlarged and flowing. In some species, 
the sternum is enlarged and hollowed to receive a fold of the wdndpipe, as in Swans, and some 
of the Storks and Ibises (p. 202). Bill equalling or exceeding the head in length, straight, rather 
slender but strong, compressed, contracted opposite the nostrils, obtusely pointed ; nasal fossae 
short, broad, shallow ; nostrils near the middle of the bill, large, broadly open and completely 
pervious ; tibiae naked for a great distance ; tarsi scutellate in front ; toes short, webbed at 
base ; hallux very short, highly elevated ; inner anterior claw large. About 15 species of various 
parts of the world ; only 3 of them American. Most of them fall in the genus Grus ; the 
elegant demoiselle " cranes of the Old World, Anthropotdes (or Tetrapteryx) virgo and fara- 
discea, and the African Balearica (or Geranarchiis) pavonina, are the principal exceptions. 
268. GRUS. (Lat. griis, fern., a crane.) Cranes. Of maximum size and length of neck and 
legs ; color white or gray. Head without crest ; more or less bare of feathers in adult, carun- 
culate, with hair-like bristles ; forehead low. Character of bill, legs, and wings, typically as 
above said. Tail short, 12-feathered. Tarsus broadly scutellate in front. Toes 'short, the 
middle about third as long as tarsus ; inner rather exceeding outer, with enlarged claw. Inner 
wing-quills lengthened, curved, pendent beyond primaries when the wing is folded. Nest on 
t\ie ground ; eggs few. 
Analysis of Species. 
Adult white, with black primaries. Nakedness extending backward in a point on top and side ot 
head americana 668 
Adults gray. Nakedness forked on top of hoad by a point of feathers, and not reaching on side below eye. 
Smaller: wing under 20.00; bill 4.00 or less; tarsus 8.00 or less canadensis 669 
Larger: wing over 20.00; bill 5.00 or more; tarsus 9.00 or more pratensis 670 
668. G. america'na. White Crane. Whooping Crane. Adult with the bare part of the head 
extending in a point on the occiput above, on each side below the eyes, and very hairy. Bill 
very stout, gonys convex, ascending, that part of the under mandible as deep as the upper 
