Systematic arrangement of the genera of birds xvii 

 ORDER STEGANOPODES 



Hind toe articulated on tbe inner surface of the tarsus, united to other 

 toes by a web. 



FAMILY PELECANID^ 



Bin strong, edges of the mandibles minutely toothed ; wings long ; legs 

 short ; toes four, aU connected by a membrane. 



JO. Phalacrocorax (Cormorant). BiU straight, longer than the head, 

 compressed ; upper mandible much hooked at the point ; face 

 and throat naked ; inner edge of the middle claw serrated ; tail 

 rounded, rigid. Page 165 



71. SuLA (Gannet). Bill straight, longer than the head, compressed, 



tapering to a point, which is but slightly curved ; face and throat 

 naked ; inner edge of the middle claw serrated ; tail graduated. 



Pagi 168 



ORDER HERODIONES 



Hallux free, not united to other toes by a web. 



FAMILY ARDEID^ 



(Herons) 



Hind toe on same plane as others. Bill rounded or ridged ; notched, 

 with no hook at end. Outer toe with broad basal web, obsolete at base of 

 inner toe ; middle claw pectinated, loral space bare ; powder down patches 

 present. 



72. Ardea (Herons). Edges of mandibles distinctly serrated ; head 



crested ; nape feathers elongated and ornamented ; plumes of 

 fore-neck not disintegrated ; no dorsal train. Page 173 



73. NyctScorax (Night Heron). BiU scarcely longer than the head, 



much compressed ; neck rather thick and short ; crest of three 

 very long tapering feathers. In other respects resembling Ardea. 



Page 173 



74. BoTAURUS (Bittern). Bill scarcely longer than the head, much com. 



pressed ; neck thick, clothed in front with long and loose feathers 

 In other respects resembUng Ardea. Page 173 



FAMILY CICONIIDiE 



(Storks) 



Hind toe elevated above plane of others ; no powder down patches ; bill 

 not hooked at tip. 



75. Ciconia (Stork). Bill much longer than the head, stout, tapering to 



a point ; nostrils near the base, pierced in the homy substance of 

 the bill ; tarsi very long ; claws not pectinated ; wings moderate, 

 third, fourth, and fifth primaries longest Page 175 



FAMILY PLATALEIDiB 

 (Spoonbills) 

 Bill flattened, narrow in middle, and widening out into a spoon-shaped end. 



76. Platal^ia (Spoonbill). Head partly bare, auricular orifice covered 



with plumes. Nostrils elongated and in a shallow depression. 



Pag* 176 



