TANTALID^. — LVII. 133 



Heron. Grayish plumbeous; crested; ])ack with long 

 plumes; crown, etc., tawny or white; young speckled; 

 size of last; B. 2f ; Ts. 3f. U. S. 



8. BOTAURUS, Stephens. Bitterns. 



1. B. lentiginosus, (Mont.) Indian Hen. Stake 

 Driver. Bittern. Tawny brown of various shades, 

 excessively variegated everywhere; dark patch on each 

 side of neck; L. 33 to 28; W. 12; T. 4^; B. 3. U. S., 

 abundant. 



9. ARDETTA, Gray. Least Bittern. 



1. A. exilis, (Gm.) Gray. Least Bittern. $> chiefly 

 glossy greenish black above, brownish yellow below, 

 neck and shoulders with chestnut; $ with purplish 

 chastnut instead of black; L. 14; W. 5; T. 1|; B. If. 

 U. S., rather rare. 



FAMILY LVII. — TANTALID^. 



{The Ibises.) 



Stork -like birds, usually of large size, with the head 



more or less bare of feathers when adult; neck and legs 



long; body small. Wings large and rounded. Tail 



very short. Tibia bare for some distance; toes 4; hind 



toe lengthened and low down. Genera four; species 



fifteen; swamps and lakes of warm regions. Sexes alike. 



Allied to the Storks [Ciconiidce) of the Old World. 



* Tarsus reticulate ; bill very stout, tapering, decurvcd. 



Tantalus, 1. 



** Tarsus scutellate in front; bill grooved, curved (curlew-like.) 

 f Claws curved Eudocimus, 2. 



ff Claws nearly straight Plegadis, 3. 



/. TANTALUS, Linnaeus. Wood Ibises. 



1. T. loculator, L. Wood Ibis. White; quills, tail 

 and primary coverts black; bare part of head and neck 



