Genus— P L E G A D I S . 
Plegadis Kaup, Skizz. Entwick-Gesch. Nat. Syst., 
p. 82, 1829 . . . . . . . . . . . . Type P. falcinellus. 
Tantalides Wagler, Isis 1832, p. 1231 Type P. falcinellus. 
Falcinellus (not VieiUot 1816) Gray, List Genera Birds, 
2nd ed., p. 87, 1841 . . . . . . . . . . Type P. falcinellus. 
Plegadornis Brekm, Naumannia 1855, p. 290 . . . . Type P. falcinellus. 
Egatheus (not Billberg 1828) Lonnberg, Journ. fiir 
Ornith. 1906, p. 533 . . . . . . . . . . Type P. falcinellus. 
Plegadine birds with long decurved bills, long wings, short tail, long legs 
and feet. 
In coloration this genus is very distinct, but in general structural 
characters it is similar to the preceding genera, Threshiornis and Carphihis, 
being however at once distinguished by the nature of the metatarsal covering. 
In those the anterior aspect of the metatarsus is covered, similar to the 
posterior, with hexagonal scales : that is, the metatarsus is reticulate through- 
out. In Plegadis the metatarsus is regularly scutellated anteriorly though 
reticulate posteriorly. 
The culmen is long and decurved, formed as in the preceding genera : 
it is about half the length of the wing. The head is feathered save for 
a bare space round the eyes and the loreal region, while a small crest 
is developed on the hind-neck. The wing has the second primary longest, 
the first and third subequal and scarcely shorter, the fourth noticeably so. 
The tail is square, composed of twelve feathers, and is shorter than the 
culmen and less than half the length of the wing. 
The legs are long, a long exposed tibia being present ; the metatarsus 
is about as long as the tail and in front is covered with regular transverse 
scales, the remainder being covered with small hexagonal scales. The toes are 
long with small connecting webs and a long hind toe is present. The claw 
of the middle toe is pectinated. 
This weU-marked genus, differing at sight from Threshiornis ( = Ibis of 
recent writers) in the metatarsal covering, has suffered as regards its nomin- 
ation, but it is now probably settled that Plegadis will remain unquestioned. 
In the “ Reference List,” following Lonnberg, I used Egatheus Billberg, but 
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