186 PLATALE^.— IBIDID^. 



Order HERODIONES. Ibises, Spoonbills, Storks, and 



Herons. 



Marsh birds, resembling Rails, Cranes, and Plovers in their long bills, necks, 

 and legs, but differing from them in anatomy and their young being helpless 

 when hatched. They are more nearly allied to the Steganopodes (Cormorants, 

 Gannets, Frigate-Birds, Pelicans, etc.) and the Acciptrine birds. Desmognathous, 

 or birds with vomer abortive or smaU, when existent always slender, narrow 

 behind and tapers in front. Maxillo-palatines united. Oil-gland tufted. Sternum 

 has two notches or one notch on each side of posterior margin. Fifth secondary 

 wanting. After-shaft generally present (wanting in some Storks). Tibia (except 

 in a few Herons) partially bare. Toes long, hind toe free, well developed, and 

 on same plane as the other toes (except in Storks). Nest generally in trees, and 

 young are fed in the nest for a time by the parents. Eggs greenish white, with 

 or without spots. 



Suborder PLATALEiE. 



Vomer pointed in front. Two notches on each side of the posterior margin of 

 breast-bone. Comprising the Ibises and Spoonbills. 



Family IBIDID^. 



Bill long, slender, and decurved. Nostril pierced in base of nasal groove 

 which extends nearly to tip of bill. Twenty-seven remiges. 



Genus IBIS. 



I/3is=the Ibis, an Egyptian bird to which divine honours were paid. 



Head and neck nude and black. Plumage white. Tarsus reticulated with 

 hexagonal scales. Second, third, and fourth toes joined by a web at base. Tail 

 of twelve feathers. Tertiaries in breeding season with elongate plumules forming 

 ornamental plumes. Young have head and neck feathered and streaked black 

 and white. Banges from Africa through India to Australia. 



(i.) Tarsus reticulated with hexagonal scales. 

 193. IMs melanocephala. The White Ibis. 



Munda, India; Kacha-tor, Pumeah; Sabut-buza, Bengal; Tatu-Kota, Ceylon; 

 Kayusoti, Burma. 



<J 29". Legs black. Bill 6 J", black. — In summer: Plumage white, similar 

 to /. cethiopica, but quills are white with no black tips, the ends of tertiaries are 

 grey with open barbs, and with a neck ruff with long plumes on foreneck. — In 

 winter: No plumes on foreneck. QuUls grey, with ordinary barbs. India, Ceylon, 

 Burma, and S. Japan. Eesident in India, replacing the Sacred Ibis (/. asthiopica) 

 of Egypt. Two to four eggs (2-54 x 1-7), greenish white, occasionally spotted 

 light brown. (J. 941. B. 1541.) 



