AVE3. 581 



Recurvirostra avocelta. — The Avocet; Plate xliii. fig 5. Described, vol. 

 iii. p. 342. 



Genus 20.— CANCROMA LinncBus. 



Generic Character.— B'M somewhat longer than the head, depressed, 

 broader than deep, dilated towards the middle, the ridge prominent, with a 

 groove on each side ; upper mandible like a boat turned keel upwards ; the 

 lower one pointed, the edges strong and sharp ; nostrils diagonal, situated 

 in the nasal groove ; three toes before, united at their base by a small mem- 

 brane ; hallux nearly parallel with the toes; wings of medium length, first 

 and sixth quills equal, the second, third, and fourth, longer than the others- 



Cancroma cochlearia.— The Boat Bill. Plate xlil*. fig. 4. Back, back of 

 the neck, vving-coverts, and tail, silvery-gray ; cheeks, tliroat, upper 

 part of the breast, quills, and tibia, white ; abdomen and crissum chestnut- 

 brown ; head large ; sinciput furnished with a long pendulous crest of dark 

 gray feathers ; front, chin, and legs, greeu ; a scarlet circle round the eyes. 

 Twenty.two inches long. Inhabits South America. 



Genus 21.— PL AT ALEA.— ijnn<Ei«. 



Generic CJiaracter. — Bill very long, much compressed, and dilated towards 

 its margins and point, which is spatuliform, or spoon-shaped ; upper man- 

 dible channelled ; nostrils approximate, open, bordered by a membrane re. 

 mute from the bill ; face and head wholly, or partially, without feathers ; 

 legs long ; lower half of tibia naked ; feet with tlu-ee long anterior toes, 

 connected the length of the second joint by membranes; the hallux long, 

 and resting on the ground; wings medium length; the second quill 

 longest. 



Platalea leucorodia. — The White Spoonbill. Plate xlii*. fig. 8. Described, 

 vol. iii. p. 334 



Platalea agaga.— The Roseate Spoonbill. Plate xliii. fig. 6. Described, 

 vol. iii. p. 335. 



Genus 22.— T A'ST ALUS.— Linnisus. 



Generic Character.— Bi\i very long, straight, laterally compressed, desti- 

 tute of a nasal furrovv, base as thick as the head, sharp and curved at the 

 tip ; upper mandible arched, sides dilated, tip compressed, cylindrical, and 

 slightly notched ; under mandible equal with the superior one, inflated at 

 the base, and slightly bent towards the tip ; both mandibles greatly inflected, 

 and sharp ; face destitute of feathers ; nostrils longitudinal and oblong, cleft 

 in the horny substance ; legs very long ; tarsus double the length of the 

 middle toe ; three anterior toes united by a broad scalloped membrane ; 

 hallux long, and resting on the ground ; wings long, first and second quills 

 the longest. 



Tantalus leucocephalus.— The White-headed Tantalus. Plate xxxv. fig. 5. 

 Head, neck,back, scapulars, and middle wing-coverts, white ; secondaries 

 rose-coloured, the lower ones tipped with white, rest of the wings dark 

 iridescent gray-blue, reflecting purple and green; smaller wing-coverts 

 tipped with white ; breast with a transverse belt of waved black bars ; face, 

 throat, and bill, saflrou-yellow ; irides orange ; legs yellow and violet. Four 

 feet long. Inhabits Ceylon. 



