236 AVKS : IIEKODIONES. — XXXVI. 



Families of Herodiones. 



a. Siiles of tipper mniuliblo with a dei'p iiarrnw jifroovc, extending from the 

 nostrils to the tip; skull srhizorhiiml. Ibises. 

 6. IJill very broad, much tluttened, and greatly widened toward tip, only 



the point decurved I'latai-kid.k, 137. 



66. Bill slender, subterete, gradually decurved for its whole length. 



IlUDID.K, 138. 



aa. Sides of upper mandible without long groove; skull holorhinal. Storks 



and Herons. 



c. Hind toe inserted more or less above the level of the others; its claw 



short; claws broad and tiat, resting on a horny pad or shoe; middle 



claw not pectinate Ciconiid.k, 139. 



cc. Hind toe inserted on the level of the rest; claws narrow, arched; the 

 middle one pectinate on its inner edge; bill straight, pointed. 



Akukid.s, 140. 



Family CXXXVII. PLATALEID^. (The Spoonbills.) 



Bill long, flat, broad and 9poonsha{)ed at the end, otherwise essen- 

 tially as in the Ibiilida;. (ienera 2 ; species 6, in most regions. 

 a. Trachea simple (not convoluted within the thorax). . . . Ajaja, 36D. 



369. AJAJA Iveithcnbacli. (Brazilian name.) 

 724. A. ajaja (L.). Hoskate Simxixhill. Chiclly white, back 

 and wind's rose-pink; tail InifTy ; skin of the balil head variegated. 

 L. 34. \V. 15. B. 7 ; its width 2. T. 5. Tropical America, N. 

 to S. 111. 



Fa.mily CXXXVIII. IBIDID^. (The InisES.) 



Bill very long and slender, compressed, cylindric, curved through- 

 out, the upper mandible with a deep groove reaching nearly or 

 quite to tip ; legs rather long, the toes slightly webbed at base. 

 Head more or less naked; ])lumage stork-like, without powder- 

 down tracts; wings broad; tail .short; tarsus scutellate in front, 

 in our species. Skull scliizorhinal. (Jenera 10 or more; species 

 24 ; of the lakes and swamps of warm regions. Sexes alike. 

 a. Head of adult wholly naked anteriorly; no crest; claws curved. 



GtARA. 370. 



aa. Head of adult feathered except on lores; crown with a short crest; claws 



nearly straight Tlkgadis, 371. 



370. GX7ARA Reiehenbach. (I'rom guarnunn, a Brazilian name.) 



12^^. G. alba (L.). White Inis. Spanish Ci'ki.ew. Pure 

 white, tips of longer quills glossy })lack. L. 24. W. 11. T. 4. 

 B. 7. Southern States, N. to S. Ind. 



371. PLEGADIS Kaup. (jrXvydf, scythe.) 



72<5. P. autumnalis (II:issrl(jiiist). TiL^.^sv litis. Ilich dark 

 purplish-chestnut ; head, back, wings and tail metallic purplish- 



