SCOLOPACEOUS COURLAN. 
187 
genus Rallus.” Finally, he reverts to his original idea, and places it at the 
head of the Rallidce. Mr. Swainson refers it to the Tantalidce , associating 
it with Anaslomus, Tantalus, and Ibis, to which it certainly has very little 
affinity in any point of view. 
The efficiency of the digestive organs as a means of determining affinities 
in cases of doubt, is happily illustrated in this instance ; and any person who 
will make himself acquainted with them will easily discover numerous false 
associations in all systems founded on the external aspect alone. 
FAMILY XXXIV.— GRUIN2E. CRANES. 
Bill about the length of the head, straight, depressed at the base, compress- 
ed toward the end, rather obtuse. Nostrils sub-basal, lateral oblong. Head 
rather small, oblong ; neck long ; body large, compressed. Legs long and 
slender; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus somewhat compressed, anterior- 
ly scutellate ; toes rather long, first short and somewhat elevated ; claws ob- 
tuse. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings broad, convex, the inner 
secondaries elongated and decurved ; tail short, rounded. 
Genus I. — GRUS, Briss. CRANE. 
Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, but strong, compressed, 
obtusely pointed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, a little 
concave at the middle, slightly declinate toward the tip, the ridge flat and 
rather broad as far as the middle, the sides sloping, towards the end convex ; 
the nasal sinus narrow, bare, and extending to nearly two-thirds, the edges 
direct, thick; lower mandible with the angle narrow and very long, the sides 
perpendicular at the base, the edges thick, the tip narrow and obtuse. Nos- 
trils sub-basal, lateral, oblong, large, pervious. Head small, compressed ; 
neck very long and slender ; body very large, but compressed. Feet very 
long; tibia bare to a great extent; tarsus long, stout, moderately compressed, 
