6 
IBIS. IBIS. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum hsLSi latum, medio 
gracile, tetragonum, inte- 
grum, arcuatum, apiee ob- 
tuse, terete ; mandibula 
superiore sulcatri. 
Nares oblongae, membrana 
circumdata, in sulco ad 
basim rostri sitae. 
Fades nuda ultra oculos. 
Pedes longiores, tetradactyli ; 
dig'iti anteriores basi mem- 
brana connexi ; pollex in 
terram insistente. 
Beah broad at the base, slen- 
der in the middle, qua- 
drangular, entire, arched, 
t he tip obtuse, rounded; the 
upper mandible grooved. 
Nostj-ils oblong, surrounded 
by a membrane, and placed 
in a groove at the base of 
the beak. 
Face naked beyond the eyes. 
Legs long, four-toed, the 
anterior toes connected at 
the base by a membrane, 
J;he hinder toe resting on 
the ground. 
IBIS. La Cepede, 111,, Cuv., Vieil., Temin. 
TANTALUS. Linn., Gmel., Latli. 
TThE birds of this genus frequent the borders of 
rivers and lakes, feeding on insects, worms, and 
mollusca, and occasionally on vegetable matter ; 
they inhabit various parts of the tropical and tempe- 
rate regions of the globe : their beak is similar in 
form to that of the Tantali ; but it is much more 
slender in its construction ; and is not notched at its 
tip : their nostrils are placed at the base of the beak, 
