BIRDS. 165 



The scapula, as in the Storks, is stouter and broader than in the Herons, so also is the 

 coracoid ; there is a distinct epicoracoid hook, and, especially in the Balaeniceps, a well-developed 

 meso-coracoidal curled plate (see 'Trans. Zool. Soc.,' 1861, pi. 67, fig. 1 cor.). In the large form 

 the base of the coracoid extends far backwards, and these bones almost meet at much less than a 

 right angle, but in Scopus at an obtuse angle. In one important point they agree as to the furcula, 

 namely, they have the " pra>coracoid segment" very massive, as in the Pelecaninse (pp. cit., pis. 66, 

 67, f. c.) ; this part forms a flat-topped mass, which fits by a synovial joint to the under-surface 

 of the head of the coracoid. In Scopus, however, the rest of the furcula is Pluvialine, for it is a 

 broad U-shaped bone, ending far from the Sternum, and having a semilunar inter-clavicle behind. 

 In Balceniccps, however, the rami are straighter, and the inter-clavicle, the clavicles, and the angle 

 of the sternal keel, form one solid bony mass, even in a young (yearling) bird ; this also is a 

 Pelecanine character. The Sternum is short and broad in both, as in the Pelican, the Cor- 

 morant, and the Stork ; but it agrees with the latter, its nearest congener, in having the 

 keel complete to the end (op. cit., pi. 67). The costal processes are squarish and well- 

 developed ; there are five pairs of costal condyles in Balteniceps, and five (in my specimen) on 

 the right side, in Scopus : on the left side I find six. Scopus agrees with Threskiornis in having 

 a small, pointed, keeled rostrum, as in the Rallinae ; but in Balaeniceps the front edge of the 

 keel is flush with the rostrum : the keel is deepest in Scopus. In this latter Bird there is a large 

 semi-oval notch in the left xiphoid region, and the outer bar is short and broad, as in the Stork ; 

 on the right side this bar is notched instead of the middle plate, as in Platalea, but not to the 

 same extent. In Balaeniceps there are two notches on each side, the outer the largest (op. cit., 

 pi. 67, fig. 1, hy., hyposternum, as it is there called) ; and this bar projects as in the Cor- 

 morant, but to a greater extent, far beyond the rest ; the intermediate bars do not reach so far 

 as the middle process. The Adjutant and the Balseniceps agree in having their coracoids apart ; 

 but there are wide differences in other respects. 



Sub-family " CICONIINJE." 



The scapula and coracoids are very stout, and the latter of great length in Ciconia and 

 Leptoptilus ; in both they meet at an acute angle, and whilst they do not reach each other in the 

 latter, they overlap in the former to some extent, but not to the same degree as in the Herons. 

 The furcula is most U-shaped in Ciconia ; but in both it has very little additional substance 

 derived from the cartilaginous segments ; the rami, therefore, pass as flat bones inside the cora- 

 coids ; in both they articulate, by a flat joint on the short inter-clavicle, with the flattened angle 

 of the sternal keel. The rostrum of the Sternum is free in both ; and the front of the large 

 perfect keel is concave ; in Leptoptilus there is one large notch and the rudiment, beside it, of 

 another : in Ciconia both sides of the large single notch are sinuous. 



Sub-family " IBIDIN.E." 



Threskiornis and Platalea come very close together in most respects ; they have less 

 of the Pelecanine type in them and more of the Plover. The coracoids overlap the left upper- 



