CHAPTER XIV 
Herons, Storks, and Ibises,— Order Herodiones. 
STORKS ASSEMBLING FOR MIGRATION. 
Agreeing with the members of the preceding order in their bridged palates, 
the absence of basipterygoid processes on the rostrum of the skull, the tufted 
oil-gland, and the presence of a downy stage in the helpless young, the herons and 
their allies the storks and ibises differ very markedly in general appearance, and 
present several important distinctive features. In the first place, their limbs— 
especially the metatarsal segment—are greatly elongated; and if the toes are 
webbed at all, the first toe is not involved. Secondly, the plumage of the 
neck, instead of being continuous, has a large bare tract reaching upwards from 
the spine. In all, the rather small and slit-like nostrils are placed near the root 
of the long, powerful, and generally sharp-pointed beak; but whereas in the 
vol. iv.—19 
