728 BIKDS OF INDIA. 



type of Rail exists in Eulabeornis, Gould, from Australia, of large 

 size, with short legs and feet, and a longish, pointed or wedged 

 tail. It is stated to have some affinities for Megapodhis. A ramus, 

 v., an American group, placed by some with the Herons, and by 

 others between the Cranes and the Herons, has been lately referred 

 to this family from its mode of nidification and the nature of its 

 eggs. Aramus scolopaceus is a birge bird with brown plumage. 

 An allied form is Aramides, Puch., founded on Rallus cayenuensis, 

 Gmelin. 



Tribe Cultirostres, Cuvier. 



Gradatores, Blyth, ''Stalkers). 



Bill thick, stout, pointed, slightly^ curved in some ; tarsus 

 elongated ; feet moderately large ; hind toe large, on the same 

 plane as the anterior toes; wings ample; tail short. Mostly of 

 large or moderate size. Nestle on trees or among reeds. 



This tribe differs from all the preceding tribes of the Grallatores 

 in the young being born naked or nearly so, and helpless, requiring 

 to be feii by their parents in the nest till nearly full grown. 

 It comprises three families, the Storks, the Herons, and the Ibises. 



They all stalk slowly along the ground, or in water, looking for 

 their food, which consists of fishes, reptiles, insects, Crustacea, and 

 molluscs ; their flight is powerful and easy, though slow in some. 

 A few are migratory and gregaiious. The tibia is bare for 

 a considerable space ; the tarsus long and scutellated ; the 

 hind toe long and on the same plane or nearly so with the 

 anterior toes. The sternum is short and wide, with one short 

 fissure narrowing upwards ; the internal anatomy varies somewhat 

 in each family. 



They are divided into the following families : — 



Fam. Ciconidce, Storks ; Fam. A rdeidcB, Flerons ; and Fam. 

 Tantalidce, Ibises. The Storks have the bill very stout and thick, 

 and are of large size. The Herons have the bill more slender and 

 pointed, with the middle toe more or less serrated ; and the Ibises 

 have the beak more or less curved. 



Cuvier placed the Cranes among the Cultirostres, but I have 

 already given reasons for separating them. 



