442 ARDEA CINEHEA. 



ceded by a semi-oblong lobe capable of admitting the point 

 of the finger. The intestine, which is seven feet four inches 

 in length, varies in diameter from three-twelfths to two- 

 twelfths, or the thickness of a goose quill. The rectum, 

 which is wider and eight inches long, has at its commence- 

 ment a single short wide coecum, six-twelfths long, three- 

 twelfths broad at the base, and terminating in a small 

 papilla. The cloacal dilatation globular. The lobes of the 

 liver are very unequal, one being two inches in length, the 

 other seven-tw r elfths more ; the gall-bladder oblong, an inch 

 and three-fourths in length. The two biliary ducts enter 

 together, close to the pancreatic. 



The nostrils are linear, four-and-a-half-twelfths long. 

 The eye rather large, the Avidth of its aperture being five- 

 twelfths. The external ear circular, and three-twelfths in 

 diameter. The legs are long and rather stout; the tibia 

 bare for more than a third, and covered with hexagonal 

 scales ; the tarsus long, considerably compressed, with hexa- 

 gonal scales, and about twelve scutella ; the toes long, 

 slender; the first proportionally shorter, with twelve scu- 

 tella ; the second with twenty-two, the third thirty-five, the 

 fourth thirty; the third and fourth connected by a basal 

 web. The claws are rather small, arched, compressed, acute, 

 but blunted by use ; the edge of the middle claw purely 

 serrate. 



The plumage is full, soft, and rather blended. The 

 feathers on the upper part of the head are elongated, lanceo- 

 late ; some of those on the occiput more than five inches 

 long, slender, and decurved. On the neck the feathers are 

 oblong, directed obliquely backwards ; those at its lower 

 part with an elongated narrow tapering point, and forming a 

 pendent tuft. On the lower parts in general they are ovato- 

 oblong, elongated, soft, and blended. On the fore part of 

 the back they are rather blended, on its hind part downy, 

 but concealed by numerous elongated, ovate feathers, Avith 

 their filaments disunited tOAvard the end, AA r hich proceed 

 from the fore part of the back in four series. Behind those 

 of the outer series are elongated scapulars of the ordinary 

 texture. Wings long and very broad, extending Avhen 



