240 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



swans captured in this State in the hope that we ma}' add this noble species 

 definitely to our avifauna. 



Order HEFiODIONES 



Herons etc. 

 Order Ardeiformes, Sharpe's Hand-List 

 Bill long, normally sharp and homy at tip with cutting edges (Cultri- 

 rostral type) ; skull sloping gradually to base of bill and intimately joined 

 with it ; nostrils small and elevated, with bony surroundings ; head more or 

 less naked at least on the lores; neck long, of 15 to 17 vertebrae, easily 

 bent into a strongly curved S-shape; legs long, the tibiae bare below; toes 

 long, the hind one nearly or quite on a level with the front ones; wings 

 long and broad; tail short, of about 12 feathers; skull desmognathous ; 

 carotids double (abnormal in the Bittern) ; food chiefly fish, reptiles, amphib- 

 ians, moUusks and other aquatic animals. These birds are preeminently 

 waders (Grallatores), and stalkers (Gradatores), moving with slow and 

 stealthy gait, often remaining motionless and standing on one leg. They 

 seize their prey by a quick, straight thrust of the beak. From the nature 

 of their feet they are mostly good perchers and nest largely in trees, the 

 nest being bulky and rude, the eggs few and plain in color. The young 

 are psilopaedic and altricial. 



Family IBIDIDAB 



Ibises 



Bill long, slightly compressed, almost cylindrical, grooved, curved 

 throughout; legs short for the order; front toes webbed at base; claws 

 compressed, sharp, resting on a homy "shoe;" tail short, usually of 12 

 feathers; tarsus usually scutellate in front; palate schizorhinal ; no basip- 

 tery golds; occipital foramina, ambiens, femorocaudal and its accessory, 

 semitendinosus and its accessory present; pectoralis major simple; sternum 

 two notched on each side; tongue very small; two coeca; feather tracts 

 broad; no powder-downs. 



There are about 32 species of ibises, confined to the tropical and 

 warm temperate regions. They inhabit marshes, swampy rivers and lake 

 shores, some of them resembling curlews in general appearance. 



