CICONINJE. 
curved  upwards ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  pierced  in  the  substance  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear.  Wings 
long  and  ample,  with  the  second  and  third  quills  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  broad.  Tarsi  much 
longer  than  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  long,  and  the  anterior  ones 
united  at  their  bases,  especially  the  outer  toe;  the  hind  toe  moderate,  with  the  tip  resting  on  the  ground. 
The  species  that  compose  this  genus  are  found  in  South  America  and  Africa.  Those  of  the  former  country  are 
usually  seen  on  the  swamps,  seeking  for  fish  and  reptiles.  They  are  sometimes  observed  perched  on  the  branches  of  a 
decayed  tree,  in  the  fork  of  which  they  build  their  spacious  nest  of  sticks  carefully  interwoven  together,  whereon  the 
female  deposits  two  eggs. 
1.  M.  americana    Linn.    PI.  enl.   817. — Ciconia    brasiliensis  |      2.  M.  senegalensis  Shaw,  Linn.  Trans,  v.  p.  32.  pi.  3.,  Rfipp. 
Briss.;  C.  mycteria  III.  Azara,  No.  343.,  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  j  Atlas,  t.  3.  —  Ciconia  ephippiorhyncha  Temm. 
469.,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  pi  75. 
Anastomus  Bo?m.* 
Bill  long,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  strong,  with  the  eulmen  nearly  straight,  and  the  sides  much 
compressed  towards  the  tip ;  the  lateral  margins  sometimes  worn  away,  leaving  an  opening  between  the 
mandibles  even  when  closed  ;  the  lower  mandible  very  much  compressed,  and  the  gonys  lengthened  and 
curved  upwards ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  pierced  in  the  substance  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear  and 
narrow.  Wings  long,  with  the  third  and  fourth  quills  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  broad.  Tarsi  longer 
than  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  long,  rather  slender  ;  with  the  anterior 
toes  united  at  their  base,  especially  the  outer ;  the  hind  toe  long  and  slender,  with  the  tip  partly  resting 
on  the  ground. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  India  and  Africa.  They  are  generally  seen  solitary,  or  in  small  flocks,  on  the 
sides  of  rivers  or  in  marshes,  searching  for  their  food,  which  consists  of  small  fish,  frogs,  crabs,  and  other  aquatic 
animals  ;  but  they  chiefly  prefer  the  animal  of  a  species  of  Unio,  the  shells  of  which  they  break  between  their  mandibles, 
which  causes  their  edges  to  be  worn  away  as  the  bird  increases  in  age,  leaving  a  considerable  gap  between  them,  even 
when  closed.    It  is  not  unusual  to  observe  these  birds  perched  on  lofty  trees,  on  which  they  also  form  their  nests. 
1.  A.  oscitans  (Bodd.)  I'l.  enl.  932.  —  Ardea  pondiceriana  et  Ar.        2.  A.  lamelligerus  Temm.  PI.  col.  236.,  Griff.A11.Kingd.iii.pl. 
coromandeliana    Gmel.    Sonn.   Voy.   t.  219- ;    Anastomus    typus    p.  510. 
Temm.  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  251.;  A.  albus  et  A.  cinereus  VieiU. 
*  Bonnaterre  established  this  genus  in  1790.  Hians  of  Cuvier  (1799—1800),  Rhynchochasme  of  Hermann  (180i),  Chenoramphus  of 
Dumont  (181 7),  and  Apertirostra  of  Vander  Patte  are  synonymous  with  the  name  employed. 
February,  1848. 
