THE HEMIGLOTTIDES. 133 



also weaker, more approximated to each other, and shorter than in the Storks, for they only just 

 reach the middle of the shoulder-blades. Immediately behind them commences the hinder part, 

 which is at first very weakly feathered, and afterwards becomes somewhat stronger, and so 

 gradually increases until, at the caudal pit, it does not yield in strength to the bands of the 

 inferior tract. The spinal space is entirely deficient, exactly as in the naked-necked Storks, 

 although in the Flamingo the neck is densely feathered. The lumbar tracts, which consist of a 

 single series of strong feathers, are also very remarkable ; they commence rather far forward upon 

 the knee, and run alongside of the plumage of the rump nearly to the tail. The feathering of the 

 anal region, behind the two ventral bands of the inferior tract which unite in an arch in front of 

 the anus, is also a peculiarity of the Flamingo. In the long wings, the length of which is 

 especially caused by that of the humerus, I find on the upper surface a rather large wing- 

 space, whilst the lower surface is almost entirely a space, down which runs the strong hypopterum 

 consisting of eighteen flat feathers. The number of remiges is thirty-four, of which eleven are 

 seated on the pinion ; the first three, which are nearly equal, are the longest, and have a sharp 

 emargination near the apex of the inner vane. On the thumb I found only three feathers, and 

 in the tail fourteen remarkably small and weak rectrices. The large and broad oil-gland has a 

 dense circlet of feathers on its truncated apical surface, and perhaps more than two orifices. 



6. HEMIGLOTTIDES. 



Two genera of Waders, Platdea and Ibis, one of which has been generally united with the 

 Storks, whilst the other has been sometimes placed with the Storks and sometimes with the 

 Snipes, I propose to unite in a distinct family under the above name, which refers to the sur- 

 prising smallness of their tongues. I regard it as forming a transition group between the 

 Pelargi and Limicolce, to both of which, but more particularly the latter, it is very nearly 

 allied. Leaving out of consideration the other characters of the family, which, however, are not 

 unimportant, we need only occupy ourselves here with the pterylosis. The characters of this, 

 even to the smallest details, are exactly as in the indigenous Storks, and therefore require neither 

 a pictorial representation nor a detailed description. 



1 . Platalea leucorodia has a continuous plumage down to the lower extremity of the neck ; 

 there is no lateral neck-space, and the inferior space only commences immediately in front of the 

 furcula, as does the spinal space near the level of the shoulders. Everything else is as in 

 Ciconia alba. In the wing I counted thirty remiges, of which ten are placed on the pinion ; of 

 these the second is the longest. The tail bears twelve feathers. Down-feathers were not wanting 

 among the contour-feathers. On the short, but broad and thick oil-gland, I found three orifices 

 in each half ; these lay together in a bowl-like depression. 



2. Ibis. Judging from an examination of I.falcineHiis, rubra, leucon and sacra, this genus has 

 exactly the pterylosis of the Storks, especially on the ventral surface, and also presents the same dif- 

 ference in the plumage of the neck, which we detected in Ardea. The only deviation in the inferior 

 tract consists in a somewhat stronger formation of the two or three outer rows of feathers of the 

 pectoral bands in the region of the outer branch, by which the latter is rendered rather more 

 distinct, especially when, as in /. sacra, the feathers close to it are very weak. However, there 



