FAMILY CICONIED^E 



17. Family CICONIIDJE 

 The Storks 



This family, comprising not much more 

 than a dozen species, is chiefly found in the 

 Old World. They are large long-legged, 

 long-necked birds, some of immense size, 

 and are superficially somewhat similar to 

 the herons, to which they are related, 

 though they are distinguished from them by 

 a number of structural characters. The 

 head and neck are usually more or less bare 

 of feathers, the bill long and very large and 

 stout, and often somewhat curved up or 

 down. The storks have great powers of 

 flight and often soar or circle at a great 

 height with the wings apparently motionless. 

 Unlike the herons, they fly with the long neck 

 and legs both outstretched. 



i. Mycteria americana (Linnaeus) 

 Wood Ibis 



Length about 1015 mm. (40.00 in.). 



Sexes alike. Adult. Plumage white except 

 the quills of wing and tail which are glossy black. 

 Bill and skin of the head and upper neck (which 

 are unf eathered) , grayish dusky. 



Young. Head partly and neck entirely cov- 

 ered, with dusky feathers; rest of plumage dull 

 white, except the quills of wings and tail which 

 are sooty. 



Occasionally seen flying over Gatun Lake, 

 but no longer common in the Canal Zone. 

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