CICONINJ^. 
and  covered  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  moderate,  with  the  anterior  ones  united  at  their 
especially  the  outer  ones ; the  hind  toe  elevated,  and  partly  resting  on  the  ground. 
The  birds  of  this  genus  perform  periodical  migrations,  visiting  various  marshy  districts  of  Eui’ope,  Asia,  and  Abac®' 
It  is  on  the  borders  of  rivers  and  streams,  or  on  the  marshes,  that  they  usually  seek  their  food,  which  consists  of 
reptiles,  also  small  quadrupeds,  and  young  birds.  They  sometimes  search  the  open  dry  plains  or  on  cultivated  ’ 
for  grasshoppers,  beetles,  and  other  insects.  The  nest  is  composed  of  sticks  and  twigs,  placed  on  buildings  or  on 
decayed  stump  of  a tree,  whereon  the  female  deposits  three  to  five  eggs. 
1.  C.  alba  Briss.  — Ardea  ciconia  Linn.  PI.  enl.  866.,  Gould, 
B.  of  Eur.  pi.  283. 
2.  C.  nigra  Bechst.  — Ardea  nigra  Gmel.  PI.  enl.  Spp. ; Ciconia 
fusca  Briss. ; Ard.  chrysopelargus  Licht,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  284. 
3.  C.  (Mol.)  — Ardea  maguari  Xatt. ; Ciconia  americana 
Briss.  C.  jaburu  Spix,  Av.  Bras.  t.  89.,  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  254. ; 
Azara,  No.  342.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  285. 
4.  C.  episcopus  (Bodd.)  PI.  enl.  906. — Ardea  leucocephala  Gmel.  ; 
Ciconia  umbellata  Wagl. 
5.  C.  microscelis  G.  R.  Gray. 
6.  C.  Abdimi  (Licht.)  Hem.  & Ehrenb.  Syn.  Phys- 
Atlas,  t.  8.  — Type  of  Sphenorhynchus  Hemp.  Ehrenb. 
7.  C.  australis  (Shaw),  Temm.  Linn.  Trans,  v.  p.  34.,  Lath-  ^ 
Syn.  pi.  138.,  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  6OI.,  Gray,  111.  Ind.  Zool-P  ■ 
Ciconia  leucoptcra  Wagl.  Gould,  B.  of  Austr.  pi. 
8.  C.  asiatica  (Lath.)  Temin.  — Ciconia  xenorhynchos 
Leptoptilus  Less.  * 
Bill  very  large,  straight,  and  the  base  higher  than  broad,  with  the  culmen  keeled  and  straight  to 
tip,  which  is  acute ; the  sides  compressed ; the  gonys  long  and  gradually  ascending ; the  nostrils  ’ 
pierced  in  the  substance  of  the  bill,  with  the  opening  linear.  Wings  long  and  ample.  TaU  moderate 
and  broad.  Tarsi  robust,  much  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  covered  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  loP^’ 
with  the  anterior  ones  united  at  the  base,  especially  the  outer  toe  ; the  hind  toe  long,  and  partly 
on  the  ground.  The  head  and  neck  denuded  of  feathers. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  inhabitants  of  India,  its  archipelago,  and  Africa ; some  of  them  perform  migrab*^®®  ^ 
certain  periods.  They  are  not  unfrequently  seen  in  the  neighbourhood  of  towns  and  villages,  where  they  readily  ^ 
upon  the  offal  that  is  thrown  aside  by  the  natives,  and  will  willingly  partake  of  putrid  carcasses.  They  ai’®  ^ jj 
sometimes  observed  stalking  about  the  plains  or  cultivated  places  in  search  of  various  kinds  of  reptiles  siad 
quadrupeds  and  birds. 
1.  L.  argala  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  pi.  115.,  PI.  col.  300 Ardea 
dubia  Gmel. ; Ciconia  marabou  Temm. 
2.  L.  eriimmiferus  (Cuv.)  PI.  col.  301.  — Ciconia  argali  Temm. ; 
Mycteria  orientaUs  Vahl  ? 
S.  L.  javanious  (Horsf.)  Linn.  Trans,  xiii.  p.  188.  — Ciconia 
capillata  Temm.  PI.  col.  312.;  C.  calva  Jerd.  •,  C.  au 
Me  CMl. ; C.  immigratoria  Hodgs. 
4.  L.  nudifrons  (Jerd.)  Madr.  Journ.  Lit.  & Sci.  1840.  P- 
5.  L.  cristatus  (Me  Clell.). 
Mycteria  Linn.-\ 
Bill  long  and  strong,  with  the  base  higher  than  broad ; the  culmen  straight  towards  the  tip,  j 
turned  upwards,  as  well  as  that  of  the  lower  mandible  ; the  sides  compressed,  and  the  gonys  loR^ 
M.  Lesson  established  this  genus  in  1831.  Argala  of  Leach  is  synonymous, 
f Linna:us  established  this  genus  in  1 756. 
