PLATALEA. SPOONBILL. 501 



analogous to that of the Ibises and Cormorants. The oeso- 

 phagus is rather wide ; the proventriculus bulbiform, with 

 large cylindrical glandules. The stomach is rather large, 

 roundish, with the muscular coat thick, its fibres disposed in 

 large fasciculi ; the central tendons very large ; the epithe- 

 lium very thick, rather soft. The intestine is very long and 

 of moderate width, or rather narrow ; there are two ex- 

 tremely short cceca, and the cloaca is large and globular. 



The nostrils linear-elliptical, sub-basal, vertical. Eyes 

 small, in a bare space, which extends to the bill. Aperture 

 of ear rather small and roundish. 



Legs long, rather slender ; tibia bare in its lower half, 

 and reticulated with hexagonal scales ; tarsus rather long, 

 stoutish, roundish, also reticulated all round with similar 

 scales ; toes rather long, moderately stout ; the first more 

 slender, articulated on the same plane as the rest; the 

 second considerably shorter than the third ; all scutellate, 

 unless at the base, flattened beneath ; the anterior connected 

 by basal webs. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, 

 tapering, pointed, that of the middle toe with a thin 

 inner edge. 



The bare space on the head varies, being in one species 

 confined to the loral spaces and gular sac, in another in- 

 cluding the head and a portion of the neck ; whence it is 

 apparent that this character is of no value as indicative of 

 distinct genera among birds otherwise similar; for which 

 reason it cannot apply to the Herons. Plumage moderate ; 

 feathers of the head and neck slender ; on the other parts 

 ovate and of moderate length. Wings long, broad, of about 

 thirty quills ; primaries firm, broad, rounded, the outer three 

 somewhat sinuate on the inner web, the second longest, the 

 third next, the first and fourth nearly equal; secondaries 

 very broad and rounded. Tail short, even, of twelve broad, 

 rounded feathers. 



Now, with regard to external form, the Spoonbills are 

 obviously nearest to the Ibises, and also approximate to the 

 Curlews. Their sternum is precisely similar to that of the 

 Scolopacime ; their cervical vertebrae have no resemblance 

 to those of the Herons, from which they differ also in 



