THE WHITE IBIS. 63 



the rings 132, broad, but very thin and unossified. The bronchi are very- 

 short, of about 15 half rings. The lateral muscles are thin; the sterno- 

 tracheal slips slender. There are no inferior laryngeal muscles. 



The sternum approaches in form to that of the Heron, the ridge is very 

 prominent, with its outline rounded; but the body differs in having two very 

 distinct deep notches on each side posteriorly. 



Genus II.— TANTALUS, Linn. TANTALUS. 



Bill long, stout, at the base as wide as the face, deeper than broad, com- 

 pressed, tapering towards the end, which is decurved; upper mandible with 

 the ridge rather broad and flattened at the base, narrowed at the middle, 

 convex toward the end, the sides sloping at the base, convex toward the 

 end, the edges inflected and sharp, the tip declinate, rounded, with a notch 

 on each side; nostrils basal, close to the ridge, direct, oblong; lower man- 

 dible with the angle rather wide, with a bare dilatable membrane, the edges 

 erect and sharp, the tip blunted. Head of ordinary size, and with part of 

 the hind neck bare and scurfy. Feet very long, like those of the Heron; 

 tibia and tarsus reticulate; hind toe rather large, third longest; claws small, 

 arched, that of the third toe not serrate. Wings long, ample, with the third 

 quill longest. Tail of twelve broad rounded feathers. 



