810 Birds of Celebes: Ardeidae. 



and on the broad muddy bank, left dry by the ebb, swarms of white Herons 

 (Ardea garzetta), Spoonbills (Platalea), white -necked Storks (Dissoura episcopiis) 

 and small shore-birds. I could not possibly withstand this sight, gave orders 

 to anchor, was put ashore and was so fortunate as to kill two splendid examples 

 of the Stork with both barrels. At the report the remaining birds took to flight 

 with loud cries, and for a long time afterwards I saw the beautiful Spoonbills 

 describing wide circles in the air at an unattainable height, until the falling 

 darkness removed them from my eyes. In the hope of getting another couple 

 of lucky shots next morning, I remained there. At sunrise indeed the birds 

 made their appearance, but were so shy that it was impossible to approach 

 within range". 



The species was most likely Platalea melanorhyncha Rchb., known from 

 Timor and Australia and straggling to New Zealand, or P. intermedia Grant, 

 from New Guinea and Borneo. The plumage is, of course, white, and Mr. 

 Ogilvie-Grant (Ibis 1889, 52, pi. I) distinguishes Platalea intermedia from 

 melanorhyncha by its having "the naked skin of the forehead and throat, as well 

 as the culmen, intense black, without any yellow spots above the eyes, and the 

 spatule rounded, instead of being obtvisely truncate". The primaries with 

 black tips. The birds seen by Rosenberg might also have been P. minor 

 T. & S. of China and Japan, or even P. major, which ranges from Egypt and India 

 to Japan. It is impossible to say what Spoonbills may ultimately be fovmd in 

 Celebes. 



SUBORDER ARDEAE. 



Two remarkable African species, the Hammer-head, Scopus umbretta, and 

 the Shoe-bill, Balaeniceps reoe, represent distinct families or subfamilies of the 

 Herons. Scopus seems to be in many respects intermediate between the true 

 Herons and the Storks, while Balaeniceps, though perhaps standing nearer to 

 the true Herons, differs from them in some important characters, such as its 

 enormous bill, furnished with a praemaxillary hook, its havnig no powder-down 

 patches on the ventral surface, no serrations on the middle claw, the tongue much 

 reduced, etc. (see Gadow, in Bronn's KL & Ord. VI, 4, Aves II, 137, 139). 

 The remaining forms constitute the family Ardeidae. 



FAMILY ARDEIDAE. 



The true Herons may generally be distinguished at a glance from most other 

 birds by the long neck, legs, and straight, pointed bill; on the gi-ound they 

 walk with a sedate, elastic stride, rarely, or never, running (wherein they differ 

 from the Rails, etc.); in flight they are characterized by the ample, slowly 

 moving wings and the feet stretched out far beyond the short tail. The forms 

 most like them in general appearance are the Storks and, in some ways, the 



