318 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



the back of the neck and chest, deep-brown ; those on the 

 body black ; bill very large and gaping. Length, 2" 9"' ; 

 wing, r 4" ; tail, 9". 



This curious bird is not uncommon about the Zambezi ; and the 

 specimen from which the above description was taken was brought 

 thence by Mr. Chapman. I have not seen it from this side of the 

 Tropic ; hut I believe it has been found in Kaffraria. Hartlaub also 

 gives it as an inhabitant of South Africa. Its enormous gaping bill, 

 and the curious structure of its plumage, at once distinguish it from all 

 our other storks. 



The Sub-Family, TANTALIN^E, or Ibises, 



have the bill lengthened, more or less slender, and curved 

 throughout its length ; the sides gradually compressed to the 

 tip, which is obtuse ; the nostrils lateral, and sometimes 

 placed in a lengthened groove, with the opening always linear 

 and exposed ; the wings rather long ; the tail moderate and 

 even ; the tarsi of various lengths, usually robust, and 

 covered in front with transverse or hexagonal scales ; the toes 

 long, the inner toe shorter than the outer, both more or less 

 united at the base ; the hind toe long, and usually strong. 



Genus TANTALUS, Linnaeus. 



Bill lengthened, broad, and elevated at the base, the basal 

 half nearly straight, the apical portion curved, with the 

 culmen gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the" tip, 

 which is emarginated ; the gonys long and curved ; the 

 nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening pierced in the 

 substance of the bill, longitudinal, and exposed-; wings long 

 and pointed, with the first quill rather shorter than the second 

 and third, which are equal and longest ; tail short and even ; 

 tarsi rather slender, much longer than the middle toe, and 

 covered with hexagonal scales ; toes long and rather slender, 

 the inner toe shorter than the outer, and both united at the 

 base ; the hind toe long and slender ; the claws short, broad, 

 and obtuse ; the head, and sometimes the neck, denuded of 

 feathers. 



602. TantalUS IbiS, Linn. ; S. N. 241, PL EnL 389 ; 

 Ibis Candida, Pen. ; T. Rhodinopterus, Wagl. Syst. 

 Av. Spec. 3. 



WHITE ; fore part of head bare of feathers, red ; some of the 

 feathers of the wing washed with rose- colour or purple ; wing 

 and tail black ; bill yellow, and curved downwards at the tip ; 



