864 SYSTEMA TIC S YNOPSIS. — HERODIONES — IBIDES. 



palatines large and spongy ; nasal bones typically holorhinal (schizorhinal in Ibides, in which, 

 also, the angle of the mandible is produced and recurved, being normally truncate). Sternum 

 ample, once or twice notched on each side behind ; cervical vertebrse numerous, usually 15-17. 

 The trachea and bronchi present some remarkable dispositions, but here and there only, such 

 conformations being therefore not characteristic of the order; carotids double (in Botaurus 

 (fig. 93) unique, as far as known, in uniting at once) ; intestinal coecum or two cceca present. 

 Different genera vary in the classificatory muscles of the leg, the ambiens, femorocaudal, and 

 its accessory being present or absent. 



The group here noted corresponds to PeZrtr(7omor2)/t« of Huxley, Ciconiiformes of Garrod 

 (minus Cathartida; !), Grallatores altinares of Sundevall, and includes HerodicB, Pelargi, and 

 Hemiglottides of Nitzsch, — respectively the i^eron series, the Stork series, and the series of 

 Ibises and Spoonbills. The first of these differs more from the others than these do from one 

 another. As usual, there are certain outlying genera, types of families or subfamilies, the posi- 

 tion of which is not assured. But appearances are that the questionable forms will fall in one 

 or another of the three series indicated. All of these series, to be conventionally rated as sub- 

 orders or superfamilies, are represented in North America, where also all the families occur, 

 excepting Balcenicipitida: and Scopidce. 



Suborder IBIDES : Ibis Series. 



Skull schizorhinal ; angle of mandible produced and recurved ; no basipterygoids ; occip- 

 ital foramina. Ambiens, femorocaudal and accessory, semitendinosus and accessory, and post- 

 acetabular portion of tensor fascial, present ; pectoralis major simple ; biceps cubiti connected 

 with tensor patagii longus. Sternum double-notched on each, side; carotids double, normal; 

 2 cceca ; tufted oil-gland. Tongue extremely small. Plumage without powder-down ; feath- 

 ered tracts broad ; spinal pteryla not defined on back. Tarsi reticulate (rarely scutellate) ; 

 hallux not fairly insistent ; claws resting upon a horny "shoe;" inner edge of middle claw 

 scarcely pectinate. Side of upper mandible with a deep narrow groove for its whttle length ; 

 bill otherwise very differently shaped in the two families, Ibididce and Plataleidce, of which 

 this series consists. 



Family IBIDID^ : Ibises. 



Bill very long and slender, compressed-cylindric, curved throughout, deeply grooved 

 nearly or quite to tip, which is rather obtuse, not notched ; end of culmen rather broad and 

 depressed, in the rest of its extent the culmen narrow and rounded ; interramal space narrow, 

 acute, produced nearly to tip of bill. (Whole bill thus closely resembling a Curlew's; one 

 of our species is frequently called " Spanish Curlew.") Legs rather short (for Herodiones) . 

 Claws compressed, acute; the middle may be dilated and jagged, but is not fairly pectinate. 

 Hallux sub-insistent. Tarsi reticulate, or scutellate in front only. Anterior toes more or less 

 webbed at base. Pterylosis more or less completely Stork-like, lacking powder-down ; head 

 more or less extensively denuded. Birds of medium and large size (among Herodiones), long- 

 legged, long-necked, and small-bodied, with ample, more or less rounded wings, of which the 

 inner quills are very large ; tail very short, usually if not always of 12 broad rectrices. Chiefly 

 lacustrine and palustrine inhabitants of the warmer parts of the globe, feeding on fish, reptiles, 

 and other animals. Sexes alike; young diff'erent. There are about 32 species of Ibises, among 

 which minor details of form vary considerably, nearly every one of them having been made 

 type of some genus, according to shape of bill, character of head -feathering, condition of tai'sal 

 envelop, etc. Some 18 genera are now in use. The two leading modifications are, tarsus 

 entirely reticulate, and tarsus scutellate in front ; our genera illustrate the latter. 



Obs. Our Wood " Ibis," so-called, is a Stork. See beyond, p. 869. 



