482 CICONIA ALBA. 



The legs are very long and rather slender ; the tibia bare 

 for about half its length, reticulated with hexagonal scales ; 

 the tarsus long, compressed, reticulated all round. The hind 

 toe is short and slightly elevated ; the anterior toes of mode- 

 rate length, webbed at the base, scutellate, but at the base 

 reticulated. On the first toe are ten, on the second fifteen, 

 the third twenty-five, the fourth twelve scutella. The claws 

 are short, convex above, broadly rounded at the end ; the 

 inner edge of the third thin, but not serrate. 



The plumage is moderately full, and in general compact. 

 The loral spaces are not bare as in the Herons ; but there is 

 a narrow longitudinal space, very slightly feathered, on each 

 side of the throat. The feathers of the head and neck are 

 oblong ; those of the lower anterior part of the neck elon- 

 gated, but rather compact, the longest measuring five inches 

 and a half. On the anterior part of the back they are 

 broadly ovate, rounded, compact, and glistening ; on the 

 hind part of the back smaller, but compact ; on the lower 

 parts of the body of looser texture. Seven of the scapulars 

 are very large, broad, rounded at the end, the largest twelve 

 inches in length. The wings are long and broad, of thirty 

 quills, and when closed reach the end of the tail ; the first 

 quill two inches and two-twelfths shorter than the second, 

 the third longest, exceeding the second by an inch and a 

 twelfth, and the fourth by an inch and a half. The secon- 

 daries are very broad and rounded ; some of the inner elon- 

 gated, one of them being only two inches and a half shorter 

 than the longest primary when the wing is closed. The 

 tail is rather short, a little rounded, the outer being an inch 

 and two-twelfths shorter than the middle feathers. The 

 down is soft and of ordinary texture; but there are no 

 patches of oily, brittle down, as in the Herons. 



The bill, tibiae, tarsi, and toes are coral red ; the claws 

 reddish-brown ; the iris brown ; and the bare skin around 

 the eyes and throat vermilion. The general colour of the 

 plumage is white; but the primary and secondary quills, 

 their coverts, the alula, and the elongated scapulars are 

 black, with a purplish-blue gloss. Some of the quills have 

 a greyish-white tinge on part of their extent. 



