508 CLASS AVES. 



mitatem paulum incurvatum;'''' and the figure which he gives 

 accords with this description. He even places this circum- 

 stance in opposition to the form of the bill in another bird, 

 (the Ibis Nandapoa, Vieill.) in which the bill is curved 

 downwards, " rostrum inferius incurvatum.'''' Accordingly^ 

 Linnaeus, Latham, Lacepede, and other ornithologists, have 

 not hesitated to form a separate genus of this bird, under the 

 name of Mtcteria, giving as the principal character this 

 slight recurvation of the bill upwards. It is not, however, 

 very sensible, especially in the younger birds, except at the 

 lower mandible, which is thicker than the upper, which is 

 triangular ; but in proportion as the bird grows old, the bill 

 assumes a greater curvature. In other respects, the cha- 

 racters of the jabirus resemble those of the storks. The nos- 

 trils exhibit but a single longitudinal and narrow cleft ; the 

 tongue, inclosed in the gullet, is so very short that Marc- 

 grave thought that it was altogether wanting ; and, singu- 

 larly enough, Linnaeus has adopted a similar supposition. 

 The head and neck are more or less divested of feathers ; 

 the legs are reticulated ; the three anterior toes are united at 

 their base by a membrane, and the hinder one rests upon the 

 ground in its entire length. 



The American Jabiru {Mycteria Americana) is described 

 by Azara under the name of Collier Rouge, and is also called 

 in Paraguay Aiaiai. It also inhabits Brazil, where it is 

 named Jabiru Guacu, and is found in some other parts of 

 South America. It is the Negro of the Hollanders, and the 

 Touyouyou of the native tribes of French Guiana. It is one 

 of the largest and strongest of shore-birds. It is mounted 

 on very high stilts, and its body is as bulky and more elon- 

 gated than that of the swan. The skin of the neck is wrin- 

 kled, and so flaccid that it depends like the dew-lap of a cow. 

 This circumstance has given rise to the name of Jabiru, 

 which in the language of the Guaranis signifies any thing 



