148 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
Storks, Ibises, etc. (not Cranes). Species usually of large stature, with com- 
pressed body and very long S-bent neck ; perching and nesting usually in 
trees, bushes, or other high places near water; young hatching weak, scarcely 
feathered, and reared in the nest. 
1. ALECTQRIDES. 1 Tibiae naked below". Neck, legs, and feet much as 
in the last group, but hallux reduced and obviously elevated, with small 
claw, the resulting foot cursorial (natatorial and lobate in Fulica). Wings 
and tail commonly as in Herodiones. Head less narrowed and conic than in 
the last, fully feathered or with extensive baldness (not with definite naked- 
ness of loral and orbital regions). Bill of various shape, usually lengthened 
and obtuse, never extensively membranous. Rictus moderate. Nostrils 
lower than in Herodiones. Pterylosis not peculiar. Palate schizognathous. 
Carotids double. Nature praecocial and ptilopaedic. Comprising the Cranes 
and Rails and their allies ; the former agreeing writh the Herodiones super- 
ficially in stature, etc., but highly diverse in the schizognathous palate, 
praecocial nature, etc. 
3T. LAMELLIROSTRES. Feet palmate; tibiae feathered (except Phce- 
nicopterus) . Legs near centre of equilibrium of the body, its axis horizontal 
in walking ; not lengthened except in PJioefiicopterus . Knee-joint rarely 
exserted beyond general skin of the body. Wings] moderate, reaching when 
folded to, but not beyond, the usually short and rounded (exceptionally long 
and cuneate) tail. Feet tetradactyle (except . sometimes in Phoenicopterus ) ; 
hallux reduced, elevated and free, often independently lobate. Bill lamel- 
late, i. e., furnished along each commissural edge with a regular series of 
mutually adapted laminae or tooth-like processes, with which correspond 
certain laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny tip. 
Bill large, thick, high at base, depressed towards the end, membranous to 
the broad obtuse tip, which is occupied by a horny “nail” of various shape. 
Nostrils patent, never tubular; nasal fossae slight. No gular pouch. Plu- 
mage dense, to resist water. Eyes very small. Head high, compressed, 
with lengthened, sloping frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Repro- 
duction praecocial; young ptilopaedic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double. 
Sternum single-notched. Comprising Flamingoes and all the Anserine birds. 
R. STEGANOPODES. Feet totipalm ate ; hallux lengthened, nearly in- 
cumbent, semilateral, completely united with the second toe by a full w r eb. 
Tibiae feathered ; position of legs with reference to axis of body variable, 
but generally far posterior ; knee-joint not free. Wings and tail variable. 
Bill of very variable shape, never lamellate, wholly corneous; its tomia 
often serrate; external nares very small or finally abortive. A prominent 
naked gular pouch. Tarsi reticulate. Sternum entire or nearly so ; furculum 
confluent with its keel. Carotids double. Palate highly desmognathous. 
Reproduction altricial ; young psilopaedic or ptilopsedic. Eggs three or 
fewer. 
Jj. LONGIPENNES. (To most of the characters of the group here given 
the genus Halodroma is a signal exception, though unquestionably belong- 
ing here.) Feet palmate. Tibiae feathered. Legs at or near centre ot 
equilibrium, affording horizontal position of axis of' body in walking. 
Knee scarcely buried in common integument ; tibia sometimes with a long 
apophysis. Hallux elevated, free, functionless; very small, rudimentary, or 
1 Groups G., H., and I. are respectively equal to the Charadriomorphce, Pelargomorphce, and 
Geranomorphce of Huxley. 
