78 



ALTEICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



regions of America, AlVica, and Asia. Of the five species of Tantalince admitted by authors, we 

 have seen, in addition to Tantalus locidator, only the T. ibis, Lixx., from Northern and Eastern 

 Africa. This is so difi'erent in form and other characters as to seem entitled to separate generic 

 rank ; and luiding no naniu alivady established or available, we have proposed that given above.^ 

 The Indian Wood Iljis (7'. leucocephalus, Gm.) and all the nther Old World species ^ agree closely in 

 structure witli the African species (T. ihis). 



Genus MYCTERIA, Linn^us. 



Myctcria, Lixx. S. N. ed. 10, I. 175S, 140 ; ed. 12, 1. 1766, 232 (type, M. americana, Gmel. ex Lixn.). 



Gen. Char. Very large, Stork-like birds, with enormous, somewhat conical and rather recurved 

 beaks, and with head and neck l)are of feathers. Bill enormously large, longer than the very long 





M. Americana. 



1 Cf. Troc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. V. p. 550. 



2 T. lacteics, Temm., of Java and Sumatra, and T. longuimcmh-is, Swinh., of South China (Amoy). 



