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VII. Defcripiion of a nc^ Species of MySleria. By George Shaw, M. D. 



F.R.S. F.P.L.S. 



Read December 4, 1798. 



THE following is a defcription of a fpecies of My£leria or 

 Jablru, the (kin of which was tranfmitted to me for exami- 

 nation by the Rev. Mr. Rackett, F. L. S. who received it from Mr. 

 Bryer, of Weymouth. 



It is faid to be a native of Senegal. The length, from the tip 

 of the bill to the ends of the claws, was fix feet, two inches. The 

 bill was thirteen inches in length, which is alfo the meafure of that 

 of the common Jabiru. The neck was fifteen inches. The body 

 twelve inches. The naked part of the thigh eleven inches ; the 

 feathered or fleiliy part four inches. The knee-joint one inch. The 

 le"- thirteen inches and a half. The foot, to the tip of the middle 

 toe five inches and a half. The two outfide toes are about an inch 

 fhorter than the middle one. The back toe fcarccly quite two 

 inches. A very flight approach towards a femipalmated appearance 

 takes place at the firft joint : the claws are finall and blunt. The 

 bill is pale or whitifh at the bafe for near three inches from the fet- 

 ting on of the upper mandible, and one inch and a half from the 

 lower : then fucceeds a broad black zone acrofs both mandibles, 

 about three inches wide ; well defined on the back part, but fome- 

 what irregular in front. From this part the bill is pale, with a 

 flight cafl of i-cddilli for about two inches, and from thence grows 

 jntenfcly red or of a vermihon colour to the tip. On each fide the 



6 bafe 



