124 



MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



Order VII. HERODIONES. Herons, Ibises. Storks. 



KEY TO FAMILIES. 



A. Bill straight, sharp pointed (Fig. 36). Claw of middle toe pectinate 

 (with a comb on inner edge, Fig. 37b). Family 20, Ardeidae. 

 Herons, Bitterns, etc. Page 127. 

 AA. Bill distinctly curved, the tip rather blunt. Claw of middle toe not 

 pectinate. B, BB. 

 B. Bill slender, curved throughout, the upper mandible with a distinct 

 groove from nostril nearly to tip. Family 18, Ibididic. Ibises. 

 Page 124. 

 BB. Bill very thick at base, only curved toward the tip. Upper 

 mandible without groove. Family 19, Ciconiida?. Storks. 

 Only one Michigan species, the Wood Ibis. Page 126. 



Fig. 37. Foot of Heron, a. Scutellate tarsus, b. Pectinate claw. 



Family 18. IBIDID.E. Ibises. 

 (Only one Michigan species, the Glossy Il)is.) 



66. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis autumnalis (Linn.). (186) 



Synonym.s: Ibis, C.roeu Il)is, P>ay Ihi.s, IMack Ciii-lew. — Tringa autumnalis, Linn.. 

 1762.— Ibis falcinellus, Vicill., Bonap., Aud., Nutt.— Plegailis faleincllus, Ridgw., 1881, 



Figure 31. 



Its large size, chestnut and dark iridescent plumage, and decurved bill 

 five inches or more in length, render the species unmistakable. At a little 

 distance the living bird appears to be glossy black. 



