868 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. —HERODIONES— CICGNIjE. 



Family PLATALEID^ : Spoonbills. 



Bill long, flat, remarkably widened, rounded, and spoon-shaped at end. Birds of this 

 group are known at a glance, by singularity of bill ; they closely resemble IhididcE in structure 

 and habit, being simply spoon-billed Ibises. Three genera, with 6 species, of various coun- 

 tries. The American Ajaja differs notably from type of Platalea, having trachea simple, bi- 

 furcating into bronchi high in neck ; bronchi with fusiform, partly membranous dilatation before 

 entering thorax. In Platalea leucorodia (fig. 608) the trachea is peculiarly convoluted within 

 the thorax. 



Aja'ja. (Vox barb., S. Am.) AMERICAN Spoonbills. Character as above said. In 

 addition : Head entirely bald, in adult. Throat somewhat pouched. Nostrils basal, linear- 

 oblong. Tibiae and tarsi reticulate with hexagonal plates. Toes semipalmate ; hind toe well 

 down. Tail of 12 feathers. Bill broader than head at greatest width of the spoon; lateral 

 groove the whole length of upper mandible ; nail at end of bill ; much of bill rugous and skinny. 

 Kecurved tuft of feathers on fore-neck below. Colors white and red. Sexes alike ; young dif- 

 ferent. One species. 



A. aja'ja. Roseate Spoonbill. Adult ^ 9 '■ White ; back and wings delicate rose-color ; 

 under parts more rosy ; plumes of lower fore-neck, lesser wing-coverts, upper and under tail- 

 coverts, rich carmine ; shafts of wing- and tail-feathers carmine. Tail brownish-yellow, and 

 a patch of same color on sides of breast. Bald head varied with green, yellow, orange, and 

 black; bill varied with greenish, bluish, yellowish, and blackish tints; legs lake red; iris car- 

 mine; claws blackish. Length of ^ 31.00-35.00; extent 50.00-55.00; wing 15.00-16.00 j 

 tail 4.00-5.00; bill 7.00, 2.00 or more across the spoon; tibia bare 3.00; tarsus 4.00; middle 

 toe and claw 3.. 50; hind do. 2.00. 9 smaller; length 30.00 or less; extent 48 00. Young: 

 Head mostly feathered ; general color white, more or less tinged with pink on wings, tail, and 

 belly; outer border of wings dark brown; more white and rosy 2d j'ear ; full plumage 3d. 

 Weight of adults 3 or 4 pounds. This bird, so singular in form and njagnificent in color, in- 

 habits the Gulf States, and most of South America ; resident in southern Florida, but numbers 

 much lessened by persecution ; N. to the Carolinas; casually to southern Hlinois, Colorado, and 

 California. Breeds in communities in trees and bushes of tangled swamps. Nest a platform 

 of sticks like a Heron's ; eggs usually 3, laid iu April or earlier, nearly elliptical, 2.60 X 1.90, 

 white or buff, with various brown markings. Platalea ajaja Linn, of most authors; CouES, 

 Key, 1872, p. 264, and Check-List, 1st ed. 1873, No. 488. P. rosea Reichenow, 1877. Ajaja 

 rosea Coues, Key, 2d-4th eds. 1884, p. 651, and Check-List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 653. Ajaja 

 ajaja Reich. Syst. Av. 1852, p. xvi ; A. 0. U. Lists, 1886-95, No. 183. 



Suborder CICONI^ : Stork Series. 

 (Pelargi of 2d-4th eds. of Key.) 



Skull holorhinal ; angle of mandible truncate. Accessory femorocaudal absent ; femo- 

 rocaudal present or absent ; semitendinosus and its accessory {)resent ; pectoralis major double ; 

 biceps cubiti and tensor patagii longus disconnected. Carotids double, normal; 2 intestinal 

 coeca; tufted oil-gland. Phnnage without powder-down; ventral feathered tracts broad. 

 Tarsi normally reticulate; hallux not fairly insistent; claws resting upon a horny "shoe;" 

 inner edge of middle claw not pectinate. Side of upper mandible ungrooved, without nasal 

 fossa; nostrils bored directly in its substance; bill very stout, compressed, tapering, straight or 

 recurved or decurved ; interramal feathering restricted. 



Storks belong chiefly to warm and temperate portions of the Old World. There are about 

 18 species, representing nearly as many genera of authors, of which 11 or 12 are in common 



