122 AVRTH AMERICAS BIRDS. 



Order HERODIONES.— The Herons, 



Storks, Ibises, etc. (Page i.) 



Families. 



a\ Sides of upper mandililo witli fi deep narrow groove extending uninterruptedly 

 from the nostrils to the tip. (Suborder Ibides.) 

 b\ Bill very broad and excessively flattened, greatly widened toward end. only 



the extreme tip decurved Plataleidae. (Page 122.) 



b'. Bill slender, nearly cylindrical, or even nai-rower than deep toward end, 

 gradually but decidedly decurved or bent downward for nearly the 



whole length Ibididae. (Page 123.) 



a'. Sides of upper mandible without any groove. 



b\ Hind toe inserted above the level of the anterior toes ; claws broad and flat, 

 I'csting on a horny pad or shoe, the middle one not pectinated. (Sub- 

 order Ciconiai.) Ciconiids. (Page 124.) 



h''. Hind toe inserted on the same level with the anterior toes; claws narrow, 

 arched, the under surftice free, the middle one with its inner edge dis- 

 tinctly pectinated. (Suborder Herodii.) 

 c*. Bill lance-shaped, or compressed, narrow, and pointed, the lateral out- 

 lines nearly straight, and the gonys several times longer than the 



width of the lower mandible Ardeidae. (Page 126.) 



(?. Bill shaped much like an inverted boat; excessively broad, the lateral 

 outlines much bowed, and the gony.s not longer than the width of 

 the lower mandible Cochleariidoi.^ 



Family PLATALEID^. — The Spoonbills. (Page 122.) 



Genera. 



(Characters same as those given for the Family) Ajaia. (Pago 122.) 



Gents AJAIA EEiniENn.vrn. (Page 122, pi. XXXI., fig. 1.) 



Species. 



Adult: Xeck, back, and breast white; tail orango-buff, the shafts deep pink; 

 rest of plumage pale rose-pink, the lesser wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts 

 glossy intense carmine. Immature (second yearf): Similar to adult, but lacking 

 tho carmine of the wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts, and tail peach-blossom 

 ]iink instead of orange-buff. Young: Head completely feathered, except around 

 base of bill ; plumage chiefly white, becoming delicate peach-blossom pink ou 

 wings, tail, and hinder lower parts ; outer webs of bastard wing, primary coverts, 



' The Boat-bills, represented by tbe single genus Cochleariut BliissoN (type, Cancruma cnchlcari'a LiKN.). 



