INTRODUCTION. 
It does not seem necessary, in the present work to enter into the question of the correct systematic position of 
the Crane-family, or to describe the details of their structure. It will suffice to say that I agree with the views of those 
authorities who place the Gruidce as a family of the order of Alectorides, between the Rhinochetidm on the one hand 
and the Psopkiidce on the other. But although I agree wnth Dr. Bowdler Sharpe and other Systematists in adopting this 
position for the Gruid^ , I cannot but think that that author , to whom we are indebted for the latest revision of the 
group (contained in the twenty-third volume of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum) has needlessly augmented 
the number of genera of this family. 
After a careful examination of tire external characters of the Cranes, and a study of a very material feature in 
their anatomy, namely, the form of the trachea, I have come to the conclusion that it is quite unnecessary to employ 
more than three generic terms for the birds of this family — namely Grus, Anthropoides ^ and Balearica. 
As regards the species of Cranes, of which Dr. Sharpe recognizes nineteen, I am only able to satisfy myself, 
after examination of all the available material , of the existence of sixteen distinct specific forms. I am quite unable, as 
will be shown in the text relating to the several species, to separate Grus lilfordi from Grtts communis , Grus mexicana 
from Grtis canadensis^ and Balearica gibbericeps from Balearica regulorum. Striking out then three species from Dr. Shar¬ 
pe’s list aud reducing the number of genera to three I propose to arrange the members of this family as follows. 
a. Grus. 
Trachea very much convoluted, making several folds which enter into the greater part (sometimes into the farthest 
extremity) of the keel of the sternum. These folds are most developed in Grus cinerea ^ G. nigricollisG, japonensis ^ 
G. aniericana and G. ^nonachus^ less so in G. canadensis^ G. antigone^ G. collaris and G. australasiana. 
Whole crown of head bare in all the species, tlie bare space not extending lower than the upper eyelid in the 
five first-named species. This bare space is more developped in G. cattadensis^ and extends over the whole of the head in 
G. australasiana , which also deviates from its allies in having a gular pouch. In G. aniigojie and G. collaris the bare 
skin of the head includes the upper part of the neck, and in one species [G. americana) the lower cheeks are not covered 
with feathers but with black hairs. 
Inner secondaries falcated and pointed and partially decomposed in tire first five named species, not decomposed 
in the last four. 
General plumage grey or white. 
Bill longer than the head, nostrils linear. 
LtST OF SPECIES OF GltUS. 
I. 
Grus 
communis. . . . 
P.ige. 
Plate. 
. 1 . 
3, 
r 
nigricolli.s.... 
... 9 . 
. II. 
3- 
fl 
japonensis . . . 
. . - 
, . . r I - 
. III. 
4- 
yi 
monachus. . . 
... 15 . 
IV. 
5- 
51 
americana. . . . 
. V. 
6 . 
51 
canadensis . . . 
. VI. 
7- 
55 
collaris. 
... 25 . 
. VII, Vila. 
8 . 
» 
antigone .... 
... 29 . 
VIII. 
9- 
51 
australasiana. . . 
IX. 
0S[ 
