320 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 13 



are characterized by a series of transverse rings which evidently 

 have a tendency to break up the light and deepen the red color 

 produced by the diffused pigment. The proximal barbulcs rciriain 

 practically unchanged. 



Ajaja ajaja, representing the Plataleidae or spoonbills, resembles 

 Plegadis very closely. Both Plegadis and Ajaja have the ventral edge 

 of the rami serrate. The similarity of the barbules of the back 

 feathers to similar ones of Mycteria is shown by plate 20, figure 27a, 

 as compared with plate 20, figure 23c. 



c) Down 



The down barbules of Mycteria americana and of other 

 Ciconiidae are long, frequently over 2.5 mm., and are very slender 

 and filamentous, with minute inconspicuous prongs, or none what- 

 ever, at the nodes. In the Ibididae and Plataleidae, on the other 

 hand, the down barbules are rather short, usually under 1 mm. in 

 length, and very stout and coarse, the internodes with longitudinal 

 ridges and grooves, and the nodes with well-developed prongs. A 

 down barbule of Guara rubra is shown on plate 23, figure 101. 



d) Relationships 



The Ciconiae form the middle section of the Ciconiiformes, the 

 Steganopodes being below them and the Ardeae and Phoenicopteri 

 above. Undoubtedly their closest relatives are the herons, with 

 which they are joined by such intermediate forms as Balaeniceps 

 and Scopus, the feathers of which I have been unable to obtain for 

 study. The Phoenicopteri appear to connect the Ciconiae with the 

 Anseres. No relation whatever is shown by the structure of the 

 feathers to the Limicolae or to typical Gruiformes. 



e) Summary 



The Ciconiae are characterized as follows : 



(1) Barbules much more numerous on distal than on proximal 

 vanule. 



2. Distal barbules with base of moderate size relative to prox- 

 imals, with moderate, lobate ventral teeth ; pennulum stout and heavy, 

 with 6 or 7 moderate-sized, progressively longer booklets; ventral 

 cilia more or less appressed, straight, usually blunt ; on the inner vane 

 about three well-separated, stout, basal dorsal cilia, followed by less 



