1G2 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



iled a breeding colony near Anistenlam, in Holland, from ilic iritcrcsting account of 

 wliicli we select the following : — 



"Ilaviii!; ins|iccted the cormorants' breed inj;-] place, we jiroceeded about fifty yards 

 further tiirough the reed-beds, over a still more treacherous swanij>, to the breeding- 

 place of the spoonbills. The nests of these birds were not situated so near together 

 as those of the cormorants, but scattered about two or three yards from each other, 

 with thin j)atches of reeds growing between them. There was, however, a clear open 

 space in the neighborhood, formed of broken-down reeds, in which the birds were said 

 to congregate. The simonbill's nest, in the Iloi-ster Meer at least, is a mere flattened 

 surface of broken reed, not elevated more than two or three inches above the general 

 level of theswam|i; and no other substance but reed appears to be used in its con- 

 struction. What the proper comi)lement of eggs would be if the birds were left 

 undisturbed we cannot say, for, as in the case of the cormorant.s, the nests are robbed 

 systematically twice a week, until the period when it is known by cx])crieii<-(' that they 

 c.-uniot jiroduce any more eggs. Then at last the birds are allowed to sit uuilisturbed. 

 At the time of our visit the season for collecting eggs was just past ; but we helped 

 oui-selves to eight fresh eggs, from different nests, laid since the last collection had 

 been made. During all the time that we were in the reed-bc<ls, the cormorants and 

 spoonbills were floating about over our heads, fully aware that there was an enemy 

 in the cam))." 



The characters of the super-family ARDEOIDK.K having already been stated to 

 be the reverse of those given for the Ibidoidea.-, we may at once proceed to treat of 

 the 8e])arale families. 



Through the wood-ibises, which, indeed, imtil very recently, in the systems were 

 associated and more or less confouiuled witli the true ibises, we are led into the 

 CicoNiiD.E, tiie storks. With a general resemblance to the herons, the storks combine 

 quite important external and internal characters of their own. Of the former it is 

 suflicicnt to mention the connection of all the anterior toes at the base, the sciitcUa- 

 tion of the tarsus, the evident, though slight, elevation of the himl toe, ami the broad- 

 ness of the feather-tr.icts. The internal peculiarities are still more im]>ortant. The 

 pectoral muscle, which in all members of the 8U]>er-faniily is more or less separable 

 into two layers, is completely double in the storks; the ambiens is rarely absent ; 

 flexor hallucis sends a special slip to the second toe ; an expansor secundariorum is 

 present ; in regard to the resjtiratory organs it is to be remarked that the syrinx has 

 no intrinsic muscles, and that the storks consecpiently are ileprive<l oi voice, and the 

 only sound they i)rodiice is a loud clatter, by beating their huge mandibles together; 

 the rings of the bronchi are com]dete. Hudiments of two cieca are visible. 



The storks are diurn.al birds, usually of solitary haliits, though some of lluiii nest 

 in colonies, as, for instance, the wouil-ibises. Their ])eculiar clattering of the bill in 

 defect of the voice is alreaily mentioned. Their flight is easy, jjowerful, and quiet. 

 A flying stork may always be told from a heron on the wing, as it keeps the neck 

 direete(l straight forward, like the il>ises, while tiie heron flies with the neck bent and 

 the head withdrawn so far back as to rest ;ibove tlie slioulders. 



The family comprises about two do7A>n species of a somewhat peculiar geogra])hieal 

 distribution. While occurring all over the trojiical and temperate resiions of the 

 world, they are nearly wanting in North Anu'riea ; for although both the wood-ibis and 

 the jabiru are enumerated in our faunal lists, only the former occurs and breeds regu- 

 larly in the southern i)arts of the country, the latter being only an occasional visitor. 



