SuL'KKi.Dr : OsTEOi.o'-.v OK iiii: Ukrodionrs. 249^ 



probable, but I am somewhat sce|)tical in regard to it ; in any event 

 far more extensive anatomical comparisons are necessary between the 

 representatives of those two grou|)s, than have as yet been made in 

 their case. 



That the PlatalciJu- and the Ibididic are two distinct families, I 

 have no manner of doubt. For although it is likely that Ajaja pos- 

 sesses a skeleton, ajiart from the skull, that is in all essential particu- 

 lars that of ibis, it differs, nevertheless, osteologically very materially 

 in the characters of the excepted part, from the corresponding characters 

 in the skull of any true ibis. And, to say the least of it, Ajaja is es- 

 sentially a holorhinal bird, while all the true Ibises are strongly schizo- 

 rhinal.' 



Of the three American superfamilies composing the Herodiones, per- 

 haps the most thoroughly distinct group is seen in the An/eit/ce; in other 

 words the gap existing between the Herons and Storks, or, between 

 the Herons and the Ibises, is decidedly more evident than is the gap 

 existing between the Storks and the Ibises ; indeed the typical Cicon- 

 oidea are probably linked with the IbididiC through the genus Tantalus. 



As for the relations of the Herons and Bitterns to each other, noth- 

 ing more need be said here beyond what I have already pointed out in 

 my remarks closing the osteology of the family Ardeidcc, given above. 



Explanation of Plates. 



Plate V. 



Skeleton of an Ibis [Plegadis fal inellus): Coll. U. S. National Museum, No. 

 14,406. (Reduced.) 



Plate VI. 



Left lateral view of the skull of the "Wood Ibis" {Tatitnlus lociilator'). Re- 

 uced. From a photogiapli by the author. (Specimen No. 1,508: Coll. U. S. Na- 

 tional Museum. ) 



' I am aware when I make this statement, that Garrod placed both Ihis and 

 Plalalea among his schizorhinal birds, but the latter is a long ways from being typ- 

 ically so, and besides Ajaja has a good many other characters in its skull quite un- 

 like the comparable ones in tlie skull of a true Ibis. These characters have been set 

 forth in detail above. 



