V.  GALLING. 
Family  V.  Chionididje. 
second  Subfamily, 
CHIONIDINiE,  or  Sheathbills, 
the  BiU  n 
■yyu-  , ^ strong,  compressed  on  the  sides,  and  the  basal  half  coated  by  a horny  covering, 
eonceals  the  Nostrils. 
Chionis  Forst.* 
^ill 
short 
bn  ^ base  broad,  compressed  towards  the  tip,  the  culmen  gradually  curved  to  the  tip, 
Covered  Ka  n 
^ ^ ^ orny  substance,  with  the  anterior  margin  dentated  and  furrowed  above  ; the 
ofth 
t>ase 
tQore  lower  mandible,  and  cheeks,  covered  by  a naked  skin ; the  nostrils  oval, 
^^d  til  1,  ^ concealed  by  the  horny  covering.  Wings  moderate,  with  the  second  quill  the  longest, 
bend  of  tVi 
Small  rQ^  ^ Wing  tuberculated.  Tail  moderate  and  even.  Tarsi  short,  strong,  and  covered  with 
'^bited  + nioderate  and  strong,  covered  above  with  transverse  scales ; the  outer  toe 
the  middip 
side  • tv,  ^ membrane  at  the  base ; the  hind  toe  small,  elevated,  and  placed  on  one 
® claws  short  and  obtuse. 
singyij^j,  K-  t- 
"^^aerica.  'jjj  . ^ found  on  the  islands  of  the  Antarctic  Ocean,  and  at  the  southern  extremity  of  South 
^^asistg  of  gjj  ^%bt  resembles  that  of  the  pigeons.  They  frequent  the  shores,  searching  for  their  food,  which 
are  usu  chiefly  Patella,  sea  weeds,  and  the  remains  of  animals  cast  on  the  coast  by  the  action  of  the  sea; 
ccean  at  n ^ aaxed  with  a few  small  stones.  These  birds  have  been  observed,  by  southern  voyagers,  in  the  open 
are  cast  land,  where  they  are  supposed  to  rest  and  to  feed  on  the  sea  weeds  and  other  refuse 
the  ieebergs. 
0. 
f*esc.  ^orst.  Lath  <? 
^ovm  i,  P-  S30.  pf  T ' Pf  Chionis  lactea  ForsU 
^llandije  Ternm  ^ *^®‘^''‘’Phaga  Pzeill. ; C. 
”*■  ’ ^“leorhamphus  nivalis  Dum.  Voy.  de  la 
Bonite,  Ois.  t 9-  (heads  of  adult  and  young)  Voy.  de  I’Uranie,  Ois. 
t.  35. 
2.  C.  minor  Hartl.  Rev.  Zool.  184(1.  p.  5.  1842.  t.  2.  f.  2.  (head). 
(^  806)  ^ Ijy  J.  R.  Forster  (^Enchiridion  Hist.  Nat.  Ins.  v.  S'!.).  Vaginalis  of  Gmelin  (1788)  and  Coleorhamphus  of 
^4^*1  With  the  ■“  ’ ' 
name  employed. 
1845. 
