TANTALID^. — LVH. 133 



Heeon. Grayish plumbeous; crested; back -with long 

 plumes; crown, etc., tawny or white; young speckled; 

 size of last; B. 2J; Ts. Sf, U. S. 



8. BOTAURUS, Stephens. Bittbens. 



1. B. minor, (Gmel.) Boie. Ikdian Hbit. Stakb 

 Deivbe. Bitteen. Tawny brown of various shades, 

 excessively variegated everywhere; dark patch on each 

 side of neck; L. 33 to 28; W. 12; T. 4^; B. 3. U. S., 

 abundant. 



9. ARBETTA, Gray. Least Bittben. 



1. A. exilis, (Gm.) Gray. Least Bitteen. $ chiefly 

 glossy greenish black above, brownish yellow below, 

 neck and shoulders with chestnut; ? with purplish 

 chestnut instead of black; L. 14; W. 5; T. If; B. If. 

 U. S., rather rare. 



FAMILY LVII.— TANTALID^. 



(The Ibises.) 

 Stork - like birds, usually of large size, with the head 

 more or less bare of feathers when adult; neck and legs 

 long; body small. "Wings large and rounded. Tail 

 very short. Tibia bare for some distance; toes 4; hind 

 toe lengthened and low down. Genera four; species 

 fifteen ; swamps and lakes of warm regions. Sexes alike. 

 Allied to the Storks (Ciconiidce) of the Old "World. 

 * Tarsus reticulate ; bill very stout, tapering, decurved. 



TANTAIiUS, 1. 



** Tarsus scutellate in front; bill grooved, curved (curlew-like.) 



t Claws curved Eudocimus, 3. 



tt Claws nearly straight FALdNEiLUS, 3. 



/. TANTALUS, Linnaeus. "Wood Ibises. 

 1. T. loculator, L. "Wood Ibis. White; quills, tail 



and primary coverts black; bare part of head and neck 



