Order  VII.  GRALL^. 
Family  II.  Ardeiiwe. 
t 
The  fourth  Subfamily, 
CICONINiE,  or  Storks, 
have  the  Bill  lengthened,  usually  straight  and  conical,  with  the  sides  compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is 
acute ;  the  gonys  long  and  ascending ;  the  Nostrils  lateral,  pierced  in  the  substance  of  the  bill,  with  the 
opening  linear :  the  Wings  long  and  ample :  the  Tail  moderate  and  broad :  the  Tarsi  lengthened,  and 
usually  covered  with  reticulated  scales :  the  Toes  moderate,  with  the  anterior  toes  more  or  less  united 
at  the  base ;  the  hind  toe  long,  elevated,  and  partly  resting  on  the  ground. 
Dromas  Payh* 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  and  straight,  with  the  culmen  gradually  sloping  to  the  tip,  which  is  acute  ; 
the  lateral  margins  straight,  the  sides  compressed,  and  the  gonys  very  long,  ascending,  and  much  angu- 
lated  at  the  base ;  the  nostrils  placed  in  a  broad  short  groove,  and  covered  posteriorly  by  a  membrane, 
leaving  an  oval  opening  exposed.  Wings  long,  with  the  second  quill  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and 
broad.  Tarsi  very  long,  compressed,  and  covered  in  front  with  transverse  scales.  Toes  long,  with  the 
anterior  ones  palmated  to  the  end  of  the  toes,  but  much  indented  in  the  middle ;  the  hind  toe  long, 
free,  and  partly  resting  on  the  ground. 
The  type  of  this  genus  is  found  in  India  and  North  Africa.  It  frequents  the  shores,  examining  the  retreating  tide 
tor  the  marine  animals  which  constitute  its  food. 
D.  ardeola  Payk.  Handl.  Acad.  Vetensk.  Stockl.  1805.  p.  188.  t.  8...  PJ.  col.  362.  —  Erodia  amphilensis  Stanl.  Salt's  Trav.  Abyss.  Lv. 
p.  60.  pi.,  Lath.  Hist,  of  B.  ix.  pi.  149. 
Ciconia  Linn.^ 
Bill  lengthened,  straight,  and  strong,  with  the  culmen  keeled  and  straight  towards  the  tip,  which  is 
acute;  the  sides  compressed,  and  the  gonys  long  and  gradually  ascending ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  and  pierced 
in  the  substance  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear  and  small.  Wings  long  and  ample,  with  the  third 
and  fourth  quills  equal  and  longest.    Tail  short  and  broad.    Tarsi  twice  the  length  of  the  middle  toe, 
*  Established  by  Paykull  in  1805.    Erodia  of  the  Earl  of  Derby  (1814)  is  synonymous. 
f  Established  by  Linnsus  in  1735.    It  embraces  Sphenorhynchus  of  MM.  Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg. 
