PLATALEID^ — THE SPOONBILLS — AJAJA. 101 



The above diagnosis is sufflcient to cliaracteri/.e this well-marked group of birds. 

 The Spoonbills are very intimately related to the Ibises, the only essential dilTerences, 

 so far as external features are concerned, being in the form of the bill. 



Seven species of the family are known, only one of these being American ; one is 

 African, two Australian, two Palsearctie, and one a native of the PhiliiJiiine Islands. 

 Three of the six exotic species we have not seen, namely, Flatalca mujor, Temm., 

 SciiLEG. of Japan, LoAwerodlus tcnuirnxfrix (Tejim.) of Africa, and L. luzoniensis 

 (Scop.) of the Philippines. The remaining species, however, are now before us, 

 and appear to be each assignable to a distinct genus, the generic characters of each 

 are as follows ; — 



Genera of Plataleidse. 



A. Bill long and narriiw, its greatest breadth not more than one fourth the length of the cidmen. 



Sitles and top of the head feathered in the adnlt. Plumage of tlic neck normal and com- 

 pact. 

 a. Occiput crested ; tcrtials and jiujulur feather.': nnnnal. 



1. Platalea.1 Forehead feathered. Tarsus nearly twice the middle toe ; Viare portion of tibia 



longer tlian middle toe. 



2. Spatherodia.- Forehead completely naked. Tarsus much less than twice the middle toe ; 



bare jjoiiiun of tibia shorter than middle toe. 

 6. Occiput not crested; tertials with their lower webs decomposed, the fibrillii- loiuj, pendant, hair- 

 like ; jugular feathers acicukir, stiflish. 



3. Platibis.3 Anterior part of foreliead bare (also orbital, malar, and gular regions, the pos- 



terior outline well defined and nearly vertical). Tarsus nearly twice the length of the 

 middle toe ; bare portion of tibia longer than middle toe. 



B. Bill rather short, very broad, its {.jreatest breadth about one third the length of the culmen. 



Sides and top of the head completely naked in the adult. Plumage of the neck short 

 and downy. 



4. Ajaja. Tarsus but little longer than middle toe ; bare portion of tibia shorter than 



middle toe. 



Genus AJAJA, Reichenbach. 



Ajaja, REirHENB. Haudb. lS."il, xvi. Type, Flatalca ajaja, Linn. 



Gen. Char. Bill much expanded and excessively depressed terminally, the tip decurved, 

 much broader than deep at the base, tlie middle portion contracted to considerably less than one 

 half the width of the terminal " disk." Nostrils sub-basal, superior, near together, longitudinal, 

 and without adjacent membrane. Head completely bald in the adult (feathered almost to the bill 

 in the young). Legs comparatively short, the tarsus but little longer than the middle toe, cov- 

 ered in front, as well as all round, with small, longitudinal, hexagonal scales. Plumage of the 

 neck short, downy.* 



1 Flatalca, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, L 1758, 133 ; ed. 12, 1. 1766, 231. Tyiic, /'. Irueerodia, Likn. 

 (Palsearctic region). 



2 Spatlierodia, Reichend. Handb. Sp. Orn. 1851, xvi. Type, Flatalca mclannr/ii/nclui, lir.iciiEXB. = 

 P. regui, Gould (P. Z. S. Oct. 24, 1837, 106. — New Cambria, Australia). 



8 Plateibis, Bonap. Consp. IL 1855, 149. Type, Flatalca flnvqxs, Goui.D (P. Z. S. Oct. 24, 1837, 106.— 

 New Cambria, Australia). 



* A ppcvibar moflification of the trachea furtlier distinguishes the genus Jjaja from Flatalca, according 

 to Professor OAr.non (P. Z. S. 1875. p. 299, fig. 2), wlio describes this organ as "simple, straight, of uni- 

 form calibre, and peculiarly short, extending only two thirds the neck, where the uncomplicated sn'iiix 

 is situated, and the bifurcation of the bronchi occurs." In Flatalca, on the other hand, the trachea is 

 "convoluted within the thorax," etc. (see Yaureli, Hist. Brit. B. II. p. 504). 



