xviii NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



iK'iujjT nnjch iiMjreviaUMl. Tail short and fow-feathered. Head narrow, co- 

 nii'o-elongatod. gradually contrai-tiiig to the large, stout hase of the hill; the 

 It ral and orbital region, or the whole head. nake<l. Ga[»e of the bill deeply 

 fissure*!; tip usually aente; toniia hard ami euttiag. iJill eonivo-elongate, 

 always longer than the head, stout and firm. Nostrils small, placed high 

 u}), with entirt'ly Itoiiy and horny, (.r only slighily membranous, surround- 

 ings. rtervl<»sis marly peculiar in the presence, almost throughout the 

 group, of powder-down tra<ts. raiely Ibund elsewhere; pteryhc very narrow. 

 Palate desmo lathons Carotids double. Altricial. Comprising the Ileions, 

 Storks, Ibises, etc. (not Cranes). Species nsually of large stature, with con- 

 pressed bo<ly and very long S-bent neck; peivhing and nesting nsually in 

 trees, bushes, or other high places near water; young hatching weak, scarcely 

 feathered, and reare(l in the nest. 



1. ALECTORIDES.* Tibiai naked below. Neck, legs, and feet much as 

 in the last grouj), but hallux reduced and obviou 'v elevated, with small 

 claw, the resulting foot cursorial (natatorial i\r<\ lobato in FuJirtty Wings 

 and tail commonly as in Herodlones. Head less narrowed and conic than in 

 the liist. fullv feathered or with extensive baldness (not with detinite naked- 

 ness of loral and orbital regions). IJill of various shape, nsually lengthened 

 and obtuse, never extensively membranous. Rictus moderate. Nostrils 

 lower than in Ilerodiones. Ptervlosis not i)eculiar. Palate schizoirnathous. 

 Carotids double. Nature pnecocial and ptilop:edic. Comprising the Cranes 

 and Rails and their allies; the former agreeing with the Herodioue.t super- 

 licially in statnre, etc., but highly diverse in the schizognathous palate, 

 [)raM-ocial nature, etc. 



J. LAMELLIROSTRES. Feet palmate; tibi:u feathered (except Ph(e- 

 nirojtferiis). Legs near centre of equilibrium of the body, its axis horizontal 

 in walking ; not lengthened except in PhornicopferKs. Knee-joint rarely 

 exserted beyond general skin of the body. Wings moderate, reaching when 

 folded to, but not beyond, the nsually short and roundetl (exceptionally long 

 and cuncate; tail. Feet tetradactyle (except sometimes in PJucuicopterufi); 

 hallux reduced, elevated and free, often independently lobate. Bill lamel- 

 late, i. e., furnished along each commissural edge with a regular series of 

 mutually adapted laininaj or tooth-like processes, with which correspond 

 certain laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny tip. 

 Bill large, thick, high at base, dei)ressed towards the end. membranous to 

 the broad obtuse tip, which is occupied by a horny '• nail " of various shape. 

 Nostrils patent, never tubular; nasal fossa? slight. No gular pouch. Plu- 

 mage dense, to resist water. Eyes very small. Head high, comj)ressed, 

 with lengthened, sloping frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Repro- 

 duction pnecocial; young ptilopa^dic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double. 

 Sternum single-notched. Comprising Flamingoes and all the Anserine birds. 

 K. STEQANOPODES. Feet totipalmate ; hallux lengthened, nearly in- 

 cumbent, semilateral. completely united with the second toe by a full web. 

 Tibiu> feathered ; position of legs with reference to axis of body varial»le, 

 but generally far posterior ; knee-joint not free. Wings and tail variable. 

 Bill of very variable shape, never lamellate, wholly corneous; its tomia 

 often serrate; external nares ver}' small or finally abortive, A prominent 

 naked gular pouch. Tarsi reticulate. Sternum entire or nearly so; furcu- 



1 r.roiips O., H., and I, are respectively equal to the Clin.rndriomorpha, Pelargamorphoe, and 

 Geranomorphcc of Huxley. 



