122 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ORDER HERODIONES. THE HERONS, 



STORK'S, IBISES, ETC. (Page i.) 



Families. 



a 1 . Sides of upper mandible with a deep narrow groove extending uninterruptedly 



from the nostrils to the tip. (Suborder Ibides.} 

 b l . Bill very broad and excessively flattened, greatly widened toward end, only 



the extreme tip decurved Plataleidse. (Page 122.) 



6 2 . Bill slender, nearly cylindrical, or even narrower than deep toward end, 

 gradually but decidedly decurved or bent downward for nearly the 



whole length Ibididae. (Page 123.) 



a 2 . Sides of upper mandible without any groove. 



b 1 . Hind toe inserted above the level of the anterior toes ; claws broad and flat, 

 resting on a horny pad or shoe, the middle one not pectinated. (Sub- 

 order Ciconice.) Ciconiidae. (Page 124.) 



6*. Hind toe inserted on the same level with the anterior toes ; claws narrow, 

 arched, the under surface free, the middle one with its inner edge dis- 

 tinctly pectinated. (Suborder Herodii.} 



c 1 . Bill lance-shaped, or compressed, narrow, and pointed, the lateral out- 

 lines nearly straight, and the gonys several times longer than the 



width of the lower mandible Ardeidas. (Page 126.) 



c 2 . Bill shaped much like an inverted boat; excessively broad, the lateral 

 outlines much bowed, and the gonys not longer than the width of 

 the lower mandible Cochleariidce. 1 



FAMILY PLAT ALEID^E. THE SPOONBILLS. (Page 122.) 



Genera. 

 (Characters same as those given for the Family) Ajaja. (Page 122.) 



GENUS AJAJA REICHENBACH. (Page 122, pi. XXXI., fig. 1.) 



Species. 



Adult : Neck, back, and breast white ; tail orange-buff, the shafts deep pink ; 

 rest of plumage pale rose-pink, the lesser wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts 

 glossy intense carmine. Immature (second year?}: Similar to adult, but lacking 

 the carmine of the wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts, and tail peach-blossom 

 pink instead of orange-buff. Young : Head completely feathered, except around 

 base of bill; plumage chiefly white, becoming delicate peach-blossom pink on 

 wings, tail, and hinder lower parts ; outer webs of bastard wing, primary coverts, 



1 The Boat-bills, represented by the single genus Cochlearius BRISSON (type, Cancroma cochlearia LINX.). 



