GRALLiE — ROSTRID.E PLATALEA. 229 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



A.rufescens, Gm. ; pealii, Bonap. (Aud. Vol. 6, p. 139, pi. 371.) Crested. Head, neck and breast 

 purplish red : rest of the body slate-blue. Dorsal feathers elongated over the tail. Base of the 

 bill flesh-colored : legs blue. Young, white. Length, 30*0. Florida Keys. 



A. occidentalis. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 110, pi. 368.) Crested. White: bill, lores and feet 

 yellow. Length, 54-0. Florida Keys. 



FAMILY ROSTRIDjE. 

 With many of the characteristics of the preceding species. Bill robust, longer than the head, enlarged 

 at the tip, or knobbed, and deflected downward. Toes four ; in some, the hind, toe very small, and 

 articulated high up. Neck and feet long. Nostrils basal, linear. Naked space of the tibia longer 

 than the middle toe. Feet partially webbed. 



Genus Platalea, Linmzus. Bill very long, much depressed, and spread out into a broad orbicular 

 form at the tip. 



P. ajaja, Spoonbill. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 72, pi. 362.) Rose-red. Whole head and chin bald. 

 Head yellowish green. Young, white; dark chesnut when hatched. Length, 30-0. South- 

 Carolina, Florida. 



Genus Phosnicopterus, Linneus. Bill more than double the length of the head, straight, and higher 

 than broad for half its length ; then suddenly Lent down, and ending in an obtuse point. Tibia 

 bare for more than half its length. 



P. ruber, Lin. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 169, pi. 375.) Red: quills black. Young, greyish white. 

 Length, 45 • - 50  0. Florida Keys. 



FAMILY TANTALIDM. 



Bill very long, robust at the base, curved downward towards the tip. Face naked. Throat dilatable. 

 Hind toe resting on the ground. 



Obs. This family contains between twenty and thirty species, distributed over the globe. Of these, 

 four are found within the limits of the United States, and two only occasionally ascend as far north 

 as this State. 



Genus Tantalus, Linnaus. Bill stout, as wide as the face at its base, compressed, curving only at 



the point. Upper mandible notched, not furrowed. Nostrils not covered by a membrane. 



First and second quills subequal, longest. 



T. loculator, Lin. (Aud. lb. Vol. 6, p. 64, pi. 361.) White: face and head greenish blue; quills 



and tail black, with colored reflections ; legs green, toes yellow. Young, dusky grey j quills and 



tail brownish. Length, 44*0. North Carolina to Texas. 



