1238 CLASS AVES. 



the Limicolae, and also shows one osteological feature now only 

 occurring among the Pygopodes in Podiceps (Grebes) and Colymbus 

 (Divers). Elornis, from the Lower Miocene of Ronzon, appears 

 to be also allied to the Flamingos ; while Agnopterus, from the 

 Upper Eocene of Montmartre, may perhaps be also included in 

 the present group. 



Suborder i 6. Herodiones. — This suborder includes the Plata- 

 leidce, or Spoonbills and Ibises ; the Ciconiidce, or Storks ; and the 

 A?'deidcE, or Herons ; all of which are waders. The Plataleidce. are 

 represented in past epochs by an extinct species of Ibis (I. pagana), 

 from the Allier and Steinheim Miocene ; while the existing Asiatic 

 Black-headed Ibis (I. melanocephala) has left its remains (fig. 1108, 

 p. 12 1 7) in the Pleistocene cave-deposits of southern India. An- 

 other existing species of this genus occurs in the cave-deposits of 

 Brazil. In the Ciconiidce, an extinct species of the African and 

 Oriental genus Leptoptilus (Arga/a), which includes the giant 

 Adjutant Stork of India, is found in the Pliocene Siwaliks of the 

 latter country, and another in the Middle Miocene of Bavaria ; 

 while an undetermined Ciconioid, from the Pikermi beds of 

 Attica, may possibly belong to the same genus. Part of a meta- 

 tarsus, from the Tertiary of Argentina, indicates a bird double the 

 size of the Pampean Stork, and has been made the type of the 

 genus Palceociconia. The Indian Siwaliks have also yielded remains 

 of another giant Stork, of which the genus has not yet been deter- 

 mined. In the Pleistocene of Queensland there occurs an extinct 

 species of Xenorhynchus. In the Ardeidce. the type genus Ardea 

 (Heron) is represented in the Bavarian Miocene by a species (A. 

 similis) apparently closely allied to, but rather stouter than, the 

 common Heron {A. cinered) ; and remains of the same genus also 

 occur in the Miocene of Allier and Gers. The Night-Herons 

 (Nycticorax) are known by an extinct species in the Pleistocene de- 

 posits of the Island of Rodriguez. Finally, certain remains from 

 the London Clay may possibly indicate that this family dates from 

 that epoch. 



Suborder 17. Steganopodes. — In the Steganopodes are in- 

 cluded a number of web-footed Birds, such as the Darters (Plotidce), 

 Cormorants (PAalacrocoracid{z),~Jdbe itrosscs * and Frigate-Birds (Fre- 

 gatidce), and the Pelicans (Pelicanidce), some of which are regarded 

 as more or less closely allied to the Gaviae, while it is suggested 

 that there may also be a connection between this group and the 

 Accipitres. The Plotidce are only known in a fossil state by a 

 species of the one genus Plotus, from the Pleistocene of Queens- 

 land. In the Phalacrocoracidce. we find the type genus Phala- 

 crocorax (Graculus or Cormoranus) in the Eocene of Montmartre, 

 the Allier Miocene, the Pliocene of the United States, and prob- 



