JAEIRU. 19 



6.— SENEGAL JABIRU. 



Mycteria Senegalensis, Ltd. Orn. Sup. p. Ixiv. 



Senegal Jabiru, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 247. Lin. Trans, v. p. 32. pi. iii. — the head. 



The length of this Species, from the bill to the end of the claws, 

 is six feet two inches; the bill itself thirteen inches; neck fifteen; 

 body twelve ; the naked part of the thighs four inches, the feathered 

 part four; knee joint one inch ; legs thirteen inches and a half; the 

 middle toe five inches and a half, the two outer ones four inches and 

 a half; all slightly connected at the base; the upper mandible is at 

 first very pale for three inches ; the under one the same for about an 

 inch and a half; then a bar of black for about three inches, and from 

 this to the tip reddish, increasing in depth of colour to the end, where 

 it is deep vermilion ; on each side of the base of the upper mandible a 

 large, semi-oval, and transparent space, which, at the back part, is 

 continued upwards in a curved direction ; across the fore part of the 

 eye, over the nostrils, a bare, flattened part, somewhat in the manner 

 of the Common Coot, and birds of that Genus ; beneath the base of 

 the bill, just at the beginning of the feathery part, are two very small, 

 pear-shaped, pendent wattles, adhering by very small necks ; the 

 head and neck are black ; scapulars the same, with whitish bases, 

 and fifteen inches in length ; the remainder of the bird white ; wings 

 and tail both wanting; the legs very long, and the thighs, to a 

 distance nearly equal to that of the legs itself, quite bare ; the whole 

 leg and thigh black, except round the knee, as well as round each 

 joint of the toes, where there is a pale zone ; the whole length of the 

 leg and thigh is coated with hexagonal, longitudinal scales. 



This appears to be quite new, approaching somewhat to the New- 

 Holland Species, yet differing in several particulars. Is said to inhabit 

 Senegal ; described from the Linncean Transactions, in which it is 

 mentioned at large by Dr. Shaw, from a skin of one lent to him by 

 the Rev. Mr. Rackett, but the wings and tail were both wanting. 



D 2 



