GRALLATORES: CINCONID^. 249 



of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, is twenty-four 

 inches long, and the wing twelve inches. 



CANCROMID/E, OR BOAT-BILL FAMILY. This Family 

 comprises waders which resemble herons in all but the 

 bill, which appears like that of a heron very much flat- 

 tened. Its shape has been aptly compared to a boat with 

 the keel upward. 



The Genus Cancroma is represented by the Boat-bill, 

 C. cocJilcaria, of South America, which is about the size 

 of the domestic hen. It lives near the water, and feeds 

 upon fish. 



CINCONID.E, OR STORK FAMILY. - -This Family in- 

 cludes the Stork of the Old World, and the Jabirus of 

 both hemispheres. They have the bill thicker than in 

 Ardeidae, and nearly equal membranes between the bases 

 of the toes. 



The Genus Cinconia comprises the White Stork, C. 

 alba, Cuv., of Europe, which is forty-two inches long, 

 white, with the quills of the wings black, and the feet 

 and bill red. It is held in high estimation on account of 

 its destruction of noxious reptiles. It prefers to build its 

 nest in towers and steeples, and returns to the same spot 

 year after year. 



The Pouched Stork, C. marabou, Temm., and C. argala, 

 Temm., respectively of the tropical regions of Africa and 

 of India, have an appendage under the throat resembling 

 a thick sausage. These birds are six feet high as they 

 ordinarily stand, and seven when the neck is fully erect, 

 and the expanse of wings is fifteen feet. They are black 

 above and white below, and are popularly known as Ad- 

 jutants. The beautiful plumes known as Marabouts are 

 obtained from under the wing of these birds. 



The Genus Jabiru comprises very large birds, which 

 differ from the Storks in having the extremity of the bill 

 curved upward. 



