158 AEDETDiE. 



the water, reappearing at a considerable distance, resting, when undisturbed, upon the 

 surface, but at the approach of danger sinking its body till only the head and neck are 

 visible. 



The birds build in company, the nests being constructed of sticks and water-plants. 

 The eggs are chalky-white, o\al in shape, and usually four in number. 



Order HERODIONES. 



In this Order are comprised the Herons, the Storks, the Spoonbills, and the 

 Ibises, which agree with the Steganopodes in having a desmognathous palate. The 

 hallux is free, and there is only a small web near the base of the inner toe, while the 

 middle and outer ones are connected near their base by a rather broad membrane. 

 Many other osteological and anatomical characters could be mentioned, but a further 

 discussion of these points is unnecessary here, as the Herodiones constitute a very 

 well-marked group recognized by every student of ornithology. The Herons and 

 Storks have holorhinal nostrils, while the SpoonbUls and Ibises have schizorhinal 

 nostrils, a character which has induced some modem ornithologists to rank the two 

 latter families as a separate suborder. 



Following, with certain modifications, the classifications of Mr. Ridgway, in his 

 " Studies of the American Herodiones " (Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geogr. Survey, iv. 

 pp. 219-251), and of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 56), we divide 

 the Herons into three families — the Ardeidge, Cancromidse, and Ciconiidae. 



Fam. AEDEID.S:. 



The Herons and Bitterns have a long and pointed bill, notched near the end of the 

 upper mandible, but without a distinct hook, and higher than it is broad. The loral 

 space is bare and generally brightly coloured, and the claw of the middle toe is 

 pectinated, having a comb-like edge, the hind toe is the same length as the others, 

 and " powder-down " patches are present. 



Two subfamilies may be recognized, viz. the Ardeinae or true Herons, and the 

 Botaurinae or Bitterns, the latter having only ten tail-feathers instead of twelve, as in 

 the former group. 



Subfam. ARBEIN^. 



In the true Herons, according to Mr. Eidgway {torn. cit. p. 223), the outer toe is either 

 equal to or decidedly longer than the inner one, and the claws are short and generally 

 strongly curved. Three pairs of " powder-down " patches are present. The rectrices 

 are long, rather stiff, and twelve in number. 



