280 
CHIONIS. SHEATHBILL, 
Geim^ic Character. 
Rostrum robustum, crassum, 
conico-convexum, com- 
pressum, mandibula su- 
periore supra vagina mo- 
bili cornea tecta. 
Nares parvae, vix ante va- 
ginam conspicuae. 
Fades nuda, papillosa. 
Aloe subflexuva nodo obtuso 
munitae. 
Pedes robusti, tetradactyli, 
parumper supra genua 
nudi ; digUo exteriore me- 
dio basi membrana con- 
nexo. 
CHIONIS. Forster, Vieil. 
VAGINALIS. Gmel., Lath. 
Beak strong, thick, slightly 
convex, compressed, the 
upper mandible covered 
with a moveable corneous 
sheath. 
Nostrils small, scarcely ap- 
pearing beyond the sheath. 
Face naked and papillated. 
Wings with a blunt knob at 
their bend. 
Legs stout, four-toed, naked 
a httle way above the knee; 
the outer toe connected by 
a membrane to the middle 
one. 
One species only is known of this extraordinai'y 
genus, and of its manners but little has been hitherto 
observed. In addition to the characters above given, 
it may be observed, that the remarkable appendage 
to its beak is placed at its base, and covers the 
