75 



Order XX. PELARGIFORMES. 



Suborder xxxviii. Ardeae*. (Cosmopolitan.) 



Suborder xxxix. Ciconiif. (Nearly Cosmopolitan.) 



Suborder xl. Balaenicipetides J. (Ethiopian.) 



Suborder xli. Scopi §. (Ethiopian.) 



Suborder xlii. Plataleae ||. (Cosmopolitan). 



Fam. 1. Plataleid^. 

 Fam. 2. Ibidid^. 



of the ilia separated sufficiently to show a broad sacrum ; sternum with one notch on 

 each side of the posterior margin ; no lateral bare tracts on neck ; oil-gland nude. 

 (Cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 40, and Stejneger, t. c. p. 120.) 



* Palate desmognathous ; mandible not produced and recurved behind its articu- 

 lation with the quadrate ; interclavicle projecting conspicuously within the angle of 

 the furcula ; basipterygoid processes absent ; spinal bare tract reaching far up to the 

 neck ; a large powder-down patch on each side of the rump ; no lateral bare tracts on 

 neck, {Cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 27.) Eggs generally blue. Nest roughly constructed, and 

 generally placed in a tree. Young when hatched covered with hair-like doAvn ; fed in 

 the nest for a long time by their parents. 



t Palate desmognathous ; mandible not produced and recurved behind its articu- 

 lation with the quadrate ; basipterygoid processes absent ; uo interclavicular process 

 within the angle of the furcula ; front plantar not leading to the hallux ; no lateral 

 bare tracts on the neck; no powder-down patches. Eggs white. Young, when 

 hatched, not covered with down, and requiring to be fed for some time by the parent 

 birds. 



X Palate desmognathous ; spinal bare tract reaching far up the neck ; mandible not 

 produced behind its articidation with the quadrate ; basipterygoid processes absent ; a 

 pair of powder-down patches {cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 27) ; culmen grooved ; toes without 

 basal membrane. For other characters of skeleton, cf. Stejneger, /. c. p. 172. Nest in 

 reeds or high grass near the water's edge. Egg chalky white, with sliglit markings. 

 Young, when hatched, helpless and fed by parent birds for some time. 



§ Palate desmognathous ; mandible not produced and recurved behind its articu- 

 lation with the quadrate ; basipterygoid processes absent ; no interclavicular process 

 within the angle of the furcula ; front plantar not leading to the hallux ; bare tracts 

 on the neck well defined ; no powder-down patches, ((y. Seebohm,^. c. p. 27.) For a 

 comparison of characters, myological &c., between Scopus and the Storks and Herons, 

 cf. Stejneger, I. c. p. 170. Nest a structure of great bidk, with chambers inside, built 

 of branches and twigs, and five or six feet in diameter, capable of bearing the weight 

 of a man. Eggs white. Nestling unknown. 



II Palate desmognathous; nasals schizorhinal ; basipterygoid processes absent; 

 spinal feather-tract not defined on the back {cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 28). Posterior angle 

 of mandible recurved; occipital foramina present; edge of cranium above orbits 

 truncate, indicating the position of the nasal glands; sternum with four posterior 

 notches ; accessory femoro-caudal muscle present (cf. Stejnegor. t. c. p. 158). Nest on 

 a tree or among reed-beds. Eggs greenish white in Platalea a\ ith spots, in Ibis green. 



