479 



CICONIA. STORK. 



The Storks resemble the Herons, from which, however, they 

 are distinguished by their more robust form, larger bill, and 

 shorter toes, with convex and obtuse claws, that of the 

 middle toe without serrature. They are also larger and more 

 portly birds, some of them even gigantic. Their body, how- 

 ever, is compressed, the neck long and rather thick; the 

 head ovate, convex above, moderately compressed. 



Bill much longer than the head, straight, stout, conical, 

 moderately compressed, tapering to a sharp point; upper 

 mandible with the dorsal line nearly quite straight, the sides 

 sloping and somewhat convex, the ridge obtuse, no nasal 

 sinus or groove, the edges sharp and direct, the tip acute ; 

 lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the 

 dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the sides in- 

 clined outwards and somewhat convex, the edges sharp, the 

 tip acute ; the gape-line straight, commencing under the eye. 



Nostrils oblong, perforated in the bill near the ridge. 

 Eyes small, surrounded by a bare space. Aperture of the ear 

 roundish, rather large. 



Legs very long, rather slender ; tibia bare for about half 

 its length, reticulated ; tarsus long, compressed, reticulated ; 

 hind toe short, and slightly elevated ; anterior toes of mode- 

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

 reticulate ; claws short, convex, obtuse. 



Plumage moderately full, generally compact, sometimes 

 glossy ; feathers of the head and neck oblong, of the lower 

 part of the neck elongated ; scapulars very large and broad. 

 Wings long, ample, of thirty quills, the third longest. Tail 

 rather short, rounded, of twelve feathers. 



The Storks belong chiefly to the warmer climates of the 



