HERODIONES 31 



h'. Plumage white throughout, with 

 trains of decomposed plumes in 



the breeding season Herodias, p. 64. 



cl Plumage slaty black, without de- 

 composed plumes Melanophoy:r,-p.'iO. 



v. Naked portion of the tibia distinctly 

 less than the inner toe and claw. 

 o\ Mandibles serrated along their 

 edges towards the tips. 

 a'. Culmen exceeding in length the 

 middle toe and claw; plumage 

 not principally white ; no de- 

 composed ornamental plumes... Biitorides, p. 79. 

 b*. Culmen about equal to tne middle 

 toe and claw. 

 a-'. Plumage rufous and slaty, 

 no decomposed ornamental 

 plumes, but a well-developed 



neck frill Brxjihrocnua. p. 77. 



6\ Wings, body and tail white ; a 

 train of decomposed orna- 

 mental dorsal plumes in the 



breeding season Ardeola, p. 75. 



c', Culmen shorter than the middle 

 toe and claw ; plumage white ex- 

 cept the decomposed ornamental 



plumes Bubulcns, p. 72. 



6^. Mandibles not serrated but with a 

 distinct subterminal notch : cul- 

 men about equal to the tarsus ... Nt/cficorax, p. 82. 

 i'. With ten tail-feathers only ; mandi- 

 bles serrated at the tips, 

 n'. Tarsus about equal to the middle 



toe and claw Ardetia, p. 86. 



6'. Tarsus considerably shorter than 



the middle toe and claw Botaurus, ]). 91. 



B. Bill long and curved throughout. 



a. Tarsus reticulated in front with hexagonal 

 scales, 

 n'. Whole head and neck naked ; inner 

 secondaries prolonged to form orna- 

 mental plumes /6t.s, p. 94. 



6'. Head and upper third of neck only 

 naked ; cranium swollen ; inner se- 

 condaries normal Geronficns, p. 97. 



c\ Head and neck feathered, only the lores 



naked; inner secondaries normal Hagedashia, p. 100. 



