ANASTOMATINiE. 765 



but leaving a greater or smaller space gaping, upper mandible 

 notched at the tip ; nostrils basal, superior ; wings moderately 

 long, with 2nd and 3rd quills longest, sub-equal ; tail moderate, 

 nearly even ; tibiae naked for a considerable space ; tarsi long, 

 reticulated ; feet rather short, the front toes joined at the base 

 by web. 



The Shell-eaters are a very curious group, having a thick, solid, 

 fibrous beak, with a more or less open space between the mandibles. 

 This space appears to exist even in the young birds, and is not the 

 result of attrition, as is generally supposed. 



940. Anastomus oscitans, Boddaert. 



Ardea, apud Boddaert — Blyth, Cat. 1626 — A. typus 

 Temminck— Sykes, Cat. 186— Jerdon, Cat. 321— A. albus, 

 VlEiLLOT— PI. Enl. $32—Gungla, Ghongal, H.—Do-khahar, or 

 Dokar, H. in Behar — Tonte bhanga, and Shamak-bhunga, Beng. ; 

 also Samak-khol, and Hammak-kas, in same parts — Gulu-konga, 

 Tel. — Paoona konga, of Southern Gonds — Natte-kuti-nareh, Tarn. — 

 all these names having reference to shells. 



The Shell Ibis. 



Descr. — General colour of the plumage pale ashy-grey, tinned 

 with reddish on the head and neck ; the winglet, primaries, 

 secondaries, tertials, scapulars, and tail black. 



Bill dull greenish, tinged with reddish beneath ; nude orbits 

 and gular skin blackish ; irides grey or pale brown ; legs pale 

 fleshy. Length 29 to 32 inches; extent 50 to 54 ; wing 16^ 

 to 17 ; tail 7 ; bill at front 6% ; tarsus 5^. 



Some birds are nearly white, and these have been usually 

 considered to be the young birds, but I believe them to be old 

 birds, which a?sume this state whilst breeding, either from an actual 

 loss of colouring matter, or simply from the action of light on the 

 old feathers. In June and the early part of July many birds are 

 met with, with this variety of plumage, and still later I have seen 

 two white birds accompanied by three or four grey ones ; these I 

 concluded to be the parents and their young brood. One which I 

 lately shot at this season, of a pure grey colour, had the young 



