THE TANTALUS. 315 



and brought it to the ground ; when, as I was in the act of 

 picking it up, it struck at my eye with its beak, and had it 

 not been for my glasses, must inevitably have reduced it to 

 perpetual darkness." "I have since," he adds, "heard of a 

 gentleman who, under similar circumstances, was not so for- 

 tunate ; he still lives, and I shall feel pleasure if, by stating 

 this incident, it should be the means of saving others from so 

 distressing a circumstance." * 



Of the fifth genus, Anastomus, or Open-Beaks, little is 

 known, except that their habits and food are similar to those 

 of the preceding genera. The beak is the prominent dis- 

 tinguishing feature ; the edges of which, instead of closing 

 throughout, meet only at the extremities. 



The sixth and last genus is that of the Tantalus, all 

 foreigners, inhabiting Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. 

 They have feet, nostrils, and beaks like those of Storks, but 

 differ from them in the form of the bill, the back of which 

 is rounded, and its point curved towards the bottom. They 

 frequent marshy spots, living on reptiles and fish. When 

 their appetite is satisfied, they retire to high trees, where they 

 remain in an erect attitude, the bill resting on the breast 

 They are simple birds, and may be easily shot. 



* CAPTAIN OWEN'S Voyages. 



