158 ARDEIDZ. 
the water, reappearing at a considerable distance, resting, when undisturbed, upon the 
surface, but at the approach of danger sinking its body till only the head and neck are 
visible. — 
The birds build in company, the nests being constructed of sticks and water-plants. 
The eggs are chalky-white, oval in shape, and usually four in number. 
Order HERODIONES. 
In this Order are comprised the Herons, the Storks, the Spoonbills, and the 
Ibises, which agree with the Steganopodes in having a desmognathous palate. The 
hallux is free, and there is only a small web near the base of the inner toe, while the 
middle and outer ones are connected near their base by a rather broad membrane. 
Many other osteological and anatomical characters could be mentioned, but a further 
discussion of these points is unnecessary here, as the Herodiones constitute a very 
well-marked group recognized by every student of ornithology. The Herons and 
Storks have holorhinal nostrils; while the Spoonbills and Ibises have schizorhinal 
nostrils, a character which has induced some modern ornithologists to rank the two 
latter families as a separate suborder. 
Following, with certain modifications, the classifications of Mr. Ridgway, in his 
“Studies of the American Herodiones” (Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geogr. Survey, iv. 
pp. 219-251), and of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 56), we divide 
the Herons into three families—the Ardeide, Cancromide, and Ciconiide. 
Fam. ARDEIDA. 
The Herons and Bitterns have a long and pointed bill, notched near the end of the 
upper mandible, but without a distinct hook, and higher than it is broad. The loral 
space is bare and generally brightly coloured, and the claw of the middle toe is 
pectinated, having a comb-like edge, the hind toe is the same length as the others, 
and “ powder-down” patches are present. 
Two subfamilies may be recognized, viz. the Ardeine or true Herons, and the 
Botaurine or Bitterns, the latter having only ten tail-feathers instead of twelve, as in 
the former group. 
Subfam. ARDEINA. 
In the true Herons, according to Mr. Ridgway (tom. cit. p. 223), the outer toe is either 
equal to or decidedly longer than the inner one, and the claws are short and generally 
strongly curved. Three pairs of “‘ powder-down” patches are present. The rectrices 
are long, rather stiff, and twelve in number. 
