SUB-ORDER 



HERODIONES, 



Cii. — Bill generally thick at the base and much longer than the head. Frontal fcathcra with a rounded outline ; lores and 

 generally the n>gion round the eye (soraetimes most of the head) naked. 



In following Bonaparte's arrangement of water birds, as sketched out in his Conspectus 

 Avium, vol. II, and elsewhere, I find great difficulty in constructing the diagnoses of his 

 higher groups, which he has generally lui't undefined. His sub-order Herodiones corresponds 

 very nearly with the Ardeidae of Gray, except perhaps in including Aramus and its allies, 

 which Gray places in the Rallidae. It would be easy enough to characterize the North 

 American forms by themselves, but it becomes necessary, of course, to avoid the introduction 

 of any phrase which would be nullified by the consideration of materials from a wider range. 



The primary characteristic of the Herodiones, though physiological rather than zoological, is 

 of the highest importance. The young are born weak and imperfect, and are reared in the nest, 

 being fed directly by the parent until able to take care of themselves, when they are generally 

 abandoned. In the Grallae, on the contrary, the young run about freely, directly after being 

 hatched, and are capable of securing food for themselves under the direction of the parent. 



The chief zoological character (not, however, entirelj^ without exception) is to be found in 

 the bill, which is generally very large, much longer than the head, and thickened at the base 

 so as to be nearly or quite as broad and high as the skull. The lores are almost always naked, 

 or if covered it is with feathers of a different kind from those on the rest of the body. The 

 hind toe in most genera is lengthened and on a level with the anterior, so as to be capable of 

 grasping ; sometimes, however, it is elevated and quite short. 



I have not the material at hand for working out the different members of this sub-order, so 

 as to present their characteristics in an intelligible manner. I follow Bonaparte in placing in 

 it of North American forms Gruidae, Aramidae, Ardeidae, Tantalidae, Flataleidae, and 

 Phoenicopteridae. These all agree pretty well with the characters already assigned, except 

 Aramidae, the type of which, Ararmis, has the head feathered to the bill, as in the Grallae. 

 In other respects its affinities to Gi-us are very close, which itself may belong to the Grallae- 

 Fhoenicopterus should probably go with the Anseres, especially if the young take to the water 

 immediately on being hatched. 



Synopsis of families. 



A. Bill contracted opposite the nostrils, much compressed ; the culnien curved at the end, 

 sinking down opposite the nostrils and then rising again. Nasal groove broad ; the nostrils 

 widely open and placed nearly at the middle of the bill. 



Gruidae. — Head usually with spaces bare of perfect feathers, and warty or papillose ; 

 the tertials elongated and pendent or decurved. Toes connected by a basal membrane. 

 Hind toe short and much elevated. 

 Aramidae. — Head feathered to the bill. Tertials not unusually elongated nor pendent. 

 Toes cleft to the base. Hind toe long and not much elevated. 



