ciconiid.e—tantalinjE: wood ibises. 



869 



use ; among these Anastomus and Hiator are remarkable for a wide interval between cutting 

 edges of bill, which only come into apposition at base and tip. The singular African Scopus 

 umhrettu, type of the family Scopidce, is now placed among Herons, though its pterylosis is 

 that of Storks. 



Family CICONIID^ : Storks. 



Bill longer than head, very stout at base, not grooved, tapering to the straight, recurved 

 or decurved tip. Nostrils pierced directly in the horny substance, without nasal scale or mem- 

 brane, high up in the bill, close to its base. Legs reticulate. Hallux hardly insistent. Claws 

 not acute. 



The family falls iu two North American subfamilies, that of Storks proper, and that of so- 

 ■called Wood Ibises. Both are represented in North America. 



Subfamily TANTALIN/E: Wood Ibises. 



Bill long, extremely stout at base, where as broad as face, gradually tapering to decurved 

 tip, without nasal groove or membrane, nostrils directly perforating its substance, high up at 

 base of upper mandible. Toes lengthened ; mid- 

 dle not less than half as long as tarsus, outer longer 

 than inner ; hind toe nearly insistent ; claws less 

 nail-like than in Ciconiince. One American genus 

 and species, and one genus (Pseudotcmtalus) with 

 3 species of Africa, southern Asia, and part of the 

 East Indies. As these birds are Storks, it is unfor- 

 tunate that the name of " Ibis," tending to promote 

 confusion, should be too firmly attached to them 

 to leave any hope of its being abolished from such 

 connection. 



As the American Spoonbill (Ajaja) is distin- 

 guished from Old World Flatalea, so does the 

 American Wood Ibis differ from Old World Fseii- 

 dotantalus to a marked degree in structure of 

 windpipe; our bird having that organ simple, it 

 being remarkably complicated in the other. In 

 Pseudotantalus ibis, typical of the genus, the 

 trachea is several times folded and doubled upon 

 itself in the thorax. In Tantalus locidator, the 

 trachea is short, straight, and simple in its lower part, with numerous reduced aiiil uioditicd 

 rings, and flattened from side to side, producing a ridge in front. 



TAN'TALUS. (Gr. TdvraXos, Lat. Tantalus, a mythical character.) Amkuican Wood 

 Stork or Wood " Ims." Gourdheau. Character as above. In addition : Whole head 

 and part of neck bare, rugous and scaly in adult, crowned with a horny i)late. Nasal fossa? not 

 continued beyond nostrils. Anterior toes webbed at base. Tibia; bare for half their length. 

 Claws compressed, but obtuse. Head feathered iu young. Sexes alike. Color wliite and 

 black. {Tantalops of 2d-4th eds. of Key.) 



T. locula'tor. (Lat. locus, a place; loculus, a little place, but rpi. loculator in its application 

 to this bird? Fig. COD.) Amkricax Wood Stork. Wood Iiiis. -• Colorado Tirkky." 

 Adult (J 9: riumage white ; wing-ipiills, primary coverts, alula, and tail glossy black : lin- 

 ing of wiugs pinkish in high )>lumage. Bald head livid bluish and yellowish; bill dingy yel- 

 lowish. Legs blue ; toes blackish ; webs tinged with yellow. Iris dark browu. Length ^ 



Fio. COO. — Wood Ibis, greatly reduced, (t'rom 

 Teniiey, after Audubon. ) 



