ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 49 



from flexure S|, tail 3^; extent of wings 27§; bill along the back 2\, along 

 the edge 2\\ tarsus 1 T 8 2, middle toe ||, its claw ff. Weight ^ lb. 



Adult Female. 



The female resembles the male, and is scarcely inferior in size. 



The mouth is similar to that of the preceding species. Tongue 1 inch 

 long. (Esophagus 64 inches long, \ inch wide at the upper part, 5 twelfths 

 in the rest of its extent; the proventriculus 6 twelfths in breadth. Stomach 

 roundish, 1^- inches long, 1 inch 2^ twelfths broad; the lateral muscles mode- 

 rate; the epithelium thick, reddish-brown, as in the other species, but with 

 numerous longitudinal ruga?. Contents of stomach, remains of insects, seeds, 

 and small pieces of quartz. Intestine 28 inches long; its width in the duo- 

 denal portion 3 1 - twelfths, so continuing until 7 inches from the extremity, 

 when it enlarges to 5 twelfths. Coeca 3 inches from the end, 2§ inches in 

 length, of the uniform width of 1 twelfth, and slightly pointed. Trachea 4 

 inches S twelfths long, its width from 3 twelfths to 2 twelfths, considerably 

 flattened; the rings 115, firm, with 2 additional dimidiate rings. Bronchial 

 half rings about IS, extremely feeble. Muscles as in the last species. 



FAMILY XXXVII.— TANTALIN^E. IBISES. 



Bill very long, arcuate, rather stout at the base, obtuse. Nostrils basal, 

 linear or oblong. Head bare in front, rather large or of moderate size; neck 

 long and slender; body ovate. Legs long and rather stout; tibia bare to a 

 large extent; tarsus reticulate, sometimes scaly in front; toes four, articulated 

 on the same level, the anterior webbed at the base, the first more slender. 

 Claws arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Wings long and very broad, with 

 the second quill longest. Tail short, of twelve feathers. Tongue triangular, 

 extremely short, flat, and thin. (Esophagus wide; stomach large, muscular, 

 broadly elliptical, with the epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestines 

 generally of moderate length and width, coeca very small; cloaca globular. 

 Trachea without inferior laryngeal muscles. 



Vol. VI. 7 



