TANTALTD^E. 



THIS is another group of birds, of which we possess 

 only one example in our fauna, the Glossy Ibis, 

 evidently of form intermediate between some of the 

 herons and Scolopacidce. The family has been de- 

 nominated, from another genus, Tantalus, having 

 all the proportions somewhat similar, but much more 

 developed. These birds, though partially aquatic, 

 are gregarious, breed on trees, and many of them 

 possess the large development of the secondary 

 quills which we saw in the cranes, while, in others, 

 the elongated feathers of the neck and breast of the 

 herons are represented. In the genus Ibis, as now 

 restricted to the type of /. rubra, falcinellus, &c., 

 we have the form more slender, and running into 

 that of the curlew division of the Scolopacidce, and 

 their habits are also more akin to them, frequenting 

 the edges of marshes, the borders of rivers, and the 

 sea shore. 



GENUS IBIS. Generic characters. Bill long, 

 curved at the base, compressed, thickened, and 

 powerful; mandible deeply grooved for its whole 

 length ; tip, without development for sense 

 of touch ; face, chin, and throat, sometimes 

 naked; legs rather long, strong; tibia? par- 

 tially naked; feet strong; toes joined by >* 



