101* BIED8 OP ILLINOIS. 



ORDER HERODIONES. THE HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC. 



CHAEACTEKS. Altricial ptilopsedic Grallatores, with the hallux lengthened and 

 nearly or Quite incumbent; palate desmognathous: carotids double; habits more or less 

 arboreal. 



The Order Herodiones includes several distinct groups, which 

 may be defined as follows: 



a 1 . Sides of upper mandible with a deep narrow groove extending uninterruptedly 



from the nostrils to the tip.... Suborder Ibides. 



v*. Sides of upper mandible without any groove. 



6 1 . Hind toe inserted above the level of the anterior toes; claws broad and flat, 

 resting on a heavy pad or shoe, the middle one not pectinated. 



Suborder Ciconiae. 



6 s . Hind toe inserted on the same level as the anterior toes; claws narrow, 

 arched, the under surface free, and the middle one with its inner edge 

 pectinated Suborder Her odii. 



SUBORDER IBIDES. THE SPOONBILLS AND IBISES. 



Families. 



a 1 . Bill very broad and excessively flattened, greatly widened toward end, only the ex- 

 treme tip deeurved Plataleidae. 



a?. Bill slender, nearly cylindrical, or even narrower than deep toward end, gradually 

 but decidedly deeurved for nearly whole length Ibididae. 



