CICONHD^. — CXXXIX. 237 



green. L. 24. W. 11. T. 4. B. 4|. Tropics, rarely N. to 

 N. E. (Eu.) ■ 



Family CXXXIX. CICONIID^. (The Stokks.) 

 Bill longer than head, very stont at base, not grooved, tapering 

 to the tip ; nostrils high, close to base of bill ; tarsus reticulate ; 

 hind toe more or less elevated ; claws short, not acute ; skull holo- 

 rhinal. Genera 7 ; species about 20, in damp places in warm re- 

 gions. The famous migratory Stork of Europe {Ciconia ciconia 

 L.) is the best known member of the group. (Lat., cicom'a, stork.) 



a. Bill decurved at tip; liind toe scarcely elevated ; trachea simple, not con- 

 voluted within thorax Tantalus, 372. 



372. TANTALUS Linnaeus. (TdrraXoy, a mythological character.) 



727. T. loculator L. Wood " Ibis," White, wings and tail 

 mostly glossy black ; the bald head livid and yellowish. L. 46. 

 W. 18. B. 7. Southern States, N. to N. Y. (Lat., one who 

 places.) 



Family CXL. ARDBID.^ (The Herons.) 



Bill straight, longer than the head, compressed, acute, with 

 sharp cutting edges ; upper mandible grooved ; nostrils linear ; 

 lores naked, the bill appearing to run directly to the eyes ; rest of 

 head feathered ; parts of the body with " powder-down tracts," — 

 strips of short, dusty, or greasy down-like feathers, usually three 

 pairs of these strips, i. «., on the back above the hips, on the belly 

 under the hips, and on the breast ; usually long plumes from the 

 back of head in the breeding season. Wings broad. Tail very 

 short. Tibiae largely naked below ; toes long and slender, hind toe 

 on a level with the rest, its claw longer than middle claw ; middle 

 claw pectinate. Skull holorhinal. Sexes usually colored alike, but 

 the changes due to age and season often considerable. Species 

 about 75 ; in most parts of the world, abundant in the warmer 

 regions, wading in shallow water and feeding chiefly on fishes. 



a. Tail feathers 10, very short, scarcely stiffer than the coverts; outer toe 

 shorter than inner; no conspicuous crest or train in breeding season; bill 



slender. (Botaurinie.) Botaueds, 373, Akdetta 373 b. 



aa. Tail feathers 12, rather long, stiffer than the coverts ; outer toe not shorter 

 than inner; claws shorter, and more curved. (Ardeinm). 

 b. Bill long and slender, at least five times as long as deep at base. 



Ardea, 374. 



bb. Bill rather short and thick, and not more than 4 times as long as deep 



at base Nycticorax, 375. 



373. BOTAURTJS Stephens. (An imitation of the bird's note.) 

 a. Size large; sexes alike; young similar. (Botaurus.) 



728. B. lentiginosus (Montagu). Bittern. Indian Hen. 

 Stake Driver. Tawny brown of various shades, excessively 



