368 



Suborder CICONIA. 



The Storks, which constitute the present suborder, are holo- 

 rhinal ; the mandible is not produced behind its articulation with 

 the quadrate, and there is a single incision on each side in the 

 posterior border of the sternum. Cervical vertebra) 17. Ambiens 

 generally present but small, occasionally wanting ; accessory 

 femoro-caudal absent, and the femoro-caudal is sometimes wanting. 

 No tracheo -bronchial muscles to the syrinx, hence all Storks are 

 absolutely destitute of voice ; they make sounds by snapping their 

 bills, and some are said to emit a grunting noise. The dorsal bare 

 tract does not extend to the neck. There are no powder-down 

 patches, and the middle claw is not pectinated. 



Family CICONIID^. 



Bill stout and long, without any distinct groove at the sides of 

 the upper mandible; genys long. Wings long; tail short. Legs 

 very long, tibia half-naked, tarsus reticulated with hexagonal scales. 

 Toes of moderate length, the three anterior toes united by web 

 at the base ; hind-toe on same plane ; claws generally short, broad, 

 and blunt. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Mandibles in contact ; no open space be- 



tween them. 

 a'. Bill straight. 



a". Forehead, crown, and cheeks 



feathered CICONIA, p. 368. 



b". Crown feathered; forehead and 



cheeks naked DISSURA, p. 370. 



c". Crown naked; whole head and neck 



nearly naked LEPTOPTILUS, p. 373. 



b'. Bill slightly curved upward at end ; 



head feathered XKNORH^NCHUS, p. 371. 



c'. Bill curved downward at end ; head 



naked PSKUDOTANTALUS, p. :37f>. 



b. An open space between mandibles ANASTOMUS, p. 377. 



Genus CICONIA, Brisson, 1760. 



The typical Storks have a long, stout, tapering, and pointed 

 bill, the lower mandible slightly inclined upward towards the end ; 

 nostrils almost linear, basal, pervious ; orbits naked, sides of head 



