106 



Fam. XXXVI. CICONIID.E, OR STORKS. 



The Storks constitute a small but well-defined family of the Order 

 Herodiones, allied to the Ardeidse, but distinguished by the elevated 

 hallux, their non-pectinated middle claw, and the absence of powder- 

 down patches in the plumage. They are divisible into two sub- 

 families the true Storks, and the Wood-Ibises (Tantalinse) . Two of 

 the former group and one of the latter occur within our limits, and two 

 of these three species range throughout tropical America up to the 

 Southern United States. 



324. MYCTERIA AMERICANA, Linn. 

 (THE JABIRU.) 



Mycteria americana, Baird, Brew., et Ridgiv. Water-B. N. A. i. p. 79 ; Scl. 

 et Salv. Nomencl. p. 126 j Berl J.f. O. 1887, p. 32 (Paraguay). 



Description. Plumage white ; bill, naked head, and neck and feet black ; 

 naked crop in life red : whole length 54-0 inches, wing 26-0, tail 9-5, tarsus 

 11*5. Female similar. 



Hob. Texas and Central and South America to La Plata. 



This is a majestic bird, the largest of the American Storks ; it stands 

 five feet high, and the wings have a spread of nearly eight feet. The 

 entire plumage is pure white, the head and six inches of the neck 

 covered with a naked black skin ; from the black part extend two scarlet 

 bands, the skin being glossy and exceedingly loose, and run narrowing 

 down to the chest. When the bird is wounded or enraged, this loose 

 red skin is said" to swell out like a bladder, changing to an intensely 

 fiery scarlet hue. The name " Jabiru " is doubtless due to this circum- 

 stance, for Azara (who gives the Guarani name of the Stork as Aiaiai) 

 says that the Indian word Yabiru signifies blown out with wind. 



The Jabiru is but rarely found near Buenos Ayres, but occurs more 

 frequently in Misiones, and in other districts on the northern frontiers 

 of the Republic. It nests on high trees, as has been recorded by 

 Brown*, and is said to lay " blue-green " eggs. 



325. EUXENURA MAGUARI (Om.). 

 (MAGUARI STORK.) 



Ciconia maguari, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 509 (Tucuman) j Scl. et Salv. 

 Nomencl. p. 126; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 189 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, 



* Canoe and Camp-Life in British Guiana, p. 272. 



