180 
Genus V.— ARAMUS, Vieill. 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 con- 
siderably 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 
noderate 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. 
