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XXII. On the Osteology of BaLanicers rex (Gould). By W. Kitcuen Parker, 
Mem. Micr. Soc. 
Read June 26, 1860. 
[Prates LXIV., LXV., LXVI., & LXVIL.] 
Introduction. 
NO lover of nature can read Mr. Petherick’s vivid and delightful description’ of the 
native home and playground of those royal children of the Tropics, the Hippopotamus, 
the Crocodile, and the Balzniceps, without longing to see with his own eyes all this 
overflowing life. 
‘The miry places and the marishes’ of these wild regions are appropriately tenanted 
by these portentous-looking representatives of the three great air-breathing Classes, 
the Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles, 
Nor do such creatures harmonize less with each other than with their savage home ; 
for one cannot even think of the great River-horse without the idea of his scaly neigh- 
bour at once suggesting itself; and the Balzeniceps has certainly in its strange counte- 
nance an artistic, if not a family likeness to the Crocodile. 
Like many of its large congeners, the Balzniceps is not merely a fish-eating bird,— 
carrion, especially intestines, being equally acceptable with fish. This is also the case 
with certain piscivorous birds belonging to other natural groups, e.g. the Sea-Eagles 
and Gulls ; whilst the Pelicans, Cormorants, and Gannets feed more cleanlily, and abide 
by a purely fish-diet. 
It is to the stilted, wading group of scavengers that the Balzniceps belongs, being 
one of the Ardee affines, and therefore intimately related to the White Stork, the 
Marabout, and the Adjutant. Its nearest relations, however, are the South American 
Boat-bill (Cancroma cochlearia) and the Little South African Umbre (Scopus umbretta). 
The latter bird, before the discovery of its gigantic relation, seemed to be unique 
amongst the near relations of the Common Heron (Ardea cinerea), in having a strong 
hook to the upper beak ; the Balzeniceps, however, has this character in the highest 
degree, and it is not absent from the flat upper jaw of the Boat-bill. It is difficult for 
the systematist to choose his type-form amongst the Ardeine genera, including Ciconia, 
Leptoptilus, Mycteria, Anastomus, Aramus, Ardea, Botaurus, Herodias, Nycticoraa, 
Scopus, Cancroma, and Baleniceps ; but as the Heron is best known, and has the cha- 
racters of the family moderately, but markedly developed, it is the most available. 
Ardea is, moreover, one of the original genera of Linnzeus ; and the names and terms 
1 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 195. 
VOL. IV.— PART VII. ~ 2a 
