314 



HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES. 



overlapping, throughout. The change does not appear to me to be due to any loss 

 of material of the bill by attrition, but to a structural bowing or arching of the 

 mandibles." 



Although agreeing with the other members of the present 

 family in the general form of the beak, the wood-storks, or wood- 



I 



WEST AFRICAN WOOD-STORK (\ nat. size). 



ibises, form a kind of connecting link between the typical storks and the ibises, 

 and are frequently referred to a separate family. In these birds the neck is of 

 medium length; the head large; the beak thick, long, rounded, tapering, and 

 curving downwards at the tip ; the foot long-toed, with large webs ; the wing long 



