Xyijj NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



being much abbreviated. Tail short and few-feathered. Head narrow, co- 

 nico-elongated, gradually contracting to the large, stout base of the bill ; the 

 loral and orbital region, or the whole head, naked. Gape of the bill deeply 

 fissured ; tip usually acute ; tomia hard and cutting. Bill conico-elongate, 

 always longer than the head, stout and firm. Nostrils small, placed high 

 up, with entirely bony and horny, or only slightly membranous, surround- 

 ings. Pterylosis nearly peculiar in the presence, almost throughout the 

 group, of powder-down tracts, rarely found elsewhere ; pterylte very narrow. 

 Palate desmognathous.. Carotids double. Altricial. Comprising the Herons, 

 Storks, Ibises, etc. (not Cranes). Species usually of large stature, with com- 

 pressed body and very long S-bent neck ; perching and nesting usually in 

 trees, bushes, or other high places near water; young hatching weak, scarcely 

 feathered, and reared in the nest. 



1. ALECTORIDES.* Tibiae naked below. Neck, legs, and feet much as 

 in the last group, but hallux reduced and obviously elevated, with small 

 claw, the resulting foot cursorial (natatorial and lobate in Fulica). Wings 

 and tail commonly as in Herodiones. Head less narrowed and conic than in 

 the last, fully feathered or with extensive baldness (not with definite naked- 

 ness of loral and orbital regions). Bill of various shape, usually lengthened 

 and obtuse, never extensively membranous. Rictus moderate. Nostrils 

 lower than in Herodiones. ■ Pterylosis not peculiar. Palate schizognathous. 

 Carotids double. Nature prsecocial and ptilopnedic. Comprising the Cranes 

 and Rails and their allies ; the former agreeing with the Herodiones super- 

 ficially in stature, etc., but highly diverse in the schizognathous palate, 

 prfecocial nature, etc. 



J. LAMELLIROSTRES. Feet palmate; tibi.ne feathered (except Phoe- 

 nicopterus). Legs near centre of equilibrium of the body, its axis horizontal 

 in walking ; not lengthened except in Phoenicopterus. Knee-joint rarely 

 exserted beyond general skin of the body. Wings moderate, reaching when 

 folded to, but not beyond, the usually short and rounded (exceptionally long 

 and cuneate) tail. Feet tetradactyle (except sometimes in Phoenicopterus) ; 

 hallux reduced, elevated and free, often independently lobate. Bill lamel- 

 late, i. e., furnished along each commissural edge with a regular series of 

 mutually adapted lamina or tooth-like processes, with which correspond 

 certain laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, Avhich ends in a horny tip. 

 Bill large, thick, high at base, depressed towards the end, membranous to 

 the broad obtuse tip, which is occupied by a horny "nail" of various shape. 

 Nostrils patent, never tubular; nasal fossae slight. No gular pouch. Plu- 

 mage dense, to resist water. Eyes very small. Head high, compressed, 

 Avith lengthened, sloping frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Repro- 

 duction praecocial; young ptilopaedic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double. 

 Sternum single-notched. Comprising Flamingoes and all the Anserine birds. 

 K. STEGANOPODES. Feet totipalmate; hallux lengthened, nearly in- 

 cumbent, semilateral, completely united with the second toe by a full web. 

 Tibiae feathered'; position of legs with reference to axis of body variable, 

 but generally far posterior ; knee-joint not free. Wings and tail variable. 

 Bill of very variable shape, never lamellate, wholly corneous; its tomia 

 often serrate; external n ares very small or finally abortive. A prominent 

 naked gular pouch. Tarsi reticulate. Sternum entire or nearly so ; furcu- 



^ Groups G., H., and I. are respectively equal to the Charadriomorphte, Pelargomorphce, and 

 Geranomorphce of Huxley. 



