TANTALIDJE. LVII. 133 



HERON. Grayish plumbeous; crested; back with long 

 plumes; crown, etc., tawny or white; young speckled; 

 size of last; B. 2f ; Ts. 3f. U. S. 



8. BOTAURUS, Stephens. BITTERNS. 



1. B. mugitans, (Bartr.) Coues. INDIAN HEN. STAKE 

 DRIVER. BITTERN. Tawny brown of various shades, 

 excessively variegated every where; dark patch on each 

 side of neck; L. 23 to 28; W. 12; T. 4J; B. 3. U. S., 

 abundant. 



9. ARDETTA, Gray. LEAST BITTERN. 



1. A. exilis, (Gm.) Gray. LEAST BITTERN. $ chiefly 

 glossy greenish black above, brownish yellow below, 

 neck and shoulders with chestnut; $ with purplish 

 chestnut instead of black; L. 14; W. 5; T. If; B. If. 

 U. S., rather rare. 



FAMILY LVII. TANTALISE. 



(The Ibises.) 



Stork -like birds, usually of large size, with the head 

 more or less bare of feathers when adult; neck and legs 

 long; body small. Wings large and rounded. Tail 

 very short. Tibia bare for some distance; toes 4; hind 

 toe lengthened and low down. Genera four; species 

 fifteen; swamps and lakes of warm regions. Sexes alike. 

 Allied to the Storks (Ciconudce) of the Old World. 



* Tarsus reticulate ; bill very stout, tapering, decurved. 



TANTALUS, 1. 



** Tarsus scutellate in front; bill grooved, curved (curlew-like.) 



IBIS, 2. 



/. TANTALUS, Linnaeus. WOOD IBISES. 

 1. T. /ocu/afor, L. WOOD IBIS. White; quills, tail 

 and primary coverts black; bare part of head and neck 



