CICONKD^ ANASTOMUS 41 



Genus IV. ANASTOMUS. 



Tyjpe. 

 Anastomus Bonn., Enc. MHh. Orn. p. 93 (1790) A. oscitans. 



Bill stout and long, distinctly bowed along the culmen, and even 

 more so from the genys to the tip, so that the cutting edges of the 

 mandibles do not meet in the middle of their length ; culmen 

 distinctly longer than the tarsus ; a small bare spot below the eye, and 

 on the chin between the mandibles, otherwise the face and neck well 

 clothed with feathers ; legs short, tarsus considerably less than 

 twice the length of the middle toe and claw. 



This genus, which can be at once recognised by its curious bill, 

 is found all over the Ethiopian region (including Madagascar) and 

 India. Two species are generally recognised, though some authors 

 consider the bird found in Madagascar as distinct, in which case the 

 number is three. 



580. Anastomus lamelligerus. African Open-bill. 



Anastomus lamelligerus, Temm. PI. Col. v, pi. 236 (1823) ; Livingstone, 

 Miss. Trav. pp. 252, 494 (1858); Laynrcl, B. S. Afr. p. 317 (1867) ; 

 Ayres, Ibis, 1869, p. 302, 1871, p. 270; Gurney, in Andersson's B. 

 Damarnl. p. 283 (1872) ; Butler, Feilden & Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 423 ; 

 Holuh Sf Pelseln, Orn. Sad- Afr. p. 289 (1882) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard's 

 B. S. Afr. p. 732 (1884) ; Fleck, .lourn. Ornith . 1894, p. 386 ; Shelley, 

 B. Afr. i, p. 159 (1896) ,; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxvi, p. 308 (1898) ; 

 Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 268 ; Eeichenow, Vng. Afr. i, p. 385 (1901). 



" Liiiongolo " in Zambesi Valley (Livingstone). 



Description. Adult. — General colour above and below black, 

 with a coppery, purple and green metallic gloss ; the gloss is chiefly 

 developed on the narrow stiffened plumes which clothe the mantle, 

 wing-coverts, lower neck and breast ; the shafts of the feathers of 

 the breast are in addition prolonged into horny, flattened, stiff 

 filaments. 



Iris very dark brown with an inner ring of yellowish-brown ; bill 

 dusky, basal half whitish ; sides of the mandibles with a series of 

 oblique ridges. 



Length 37 ; wing 17'5 ; tail 7*5 ; culmen 7-5 ; tarsus 5-5 ; middle 

 toe and claw 4-5. 



The sexes are alike ; young birds are browner than the adults 

 and have less gloss ; the wing-coverts, dorsal plumes and feathers 

 of the fore neck and chest have whity-brown tips. 



