34 GLOSSY IBIS. 
arrangement,) they do not dismember it, but force the whole into 
their family Jlrdeidse , with which even Ibis has, it is true, more 
real, though less apparent affinity than with Scolopacidte: as for 
Tantalus there could be no doubt. Goldfuss has done the same. 
The Tantalidse all have a very long bill, stout at the base, 
subulate, falcate, and cylindrical at tip, the edges bent in and 
sharp. Their corneo-membranous tongue is remarkably short, 
flat, cuneate-acuminate, entire, posteriorly furcate-emarginate. 
Their face is destitute of feathers, and their throat somewhat 
dilatable into a pouch. Their neck is long. Their feet long, 
equilibrate, and always four-toed: the naked space of the tibia 
considerable : the toes long, bordered with a narrow membrane 
connecting the fore toes at base. The hind toe is articulated 
with the tarsus low down, and is half as long as the middle, 
bearing with its whole length on the ground. The wings are 
moderate, obtuse, tubercular. The tail short, composed of but 
twelve feathers. The falcate shape of the bill will at once 
distinguish them from any of the Jlrdeidse; and the nakedness of 
the face from the Scolopacidse. 
The Ibis may be known from the true Tantalus by having a 
comparatively slender bill, depressed and curved from the base; 
instead of being very stout at the base, compressed, and curved 
only towards the tip. In Ibis, the upper mandible is deeply 
furrowed its whole length, and entire. In Tantalus it is not 
furrowed, and is notched. The nostrils are pervious and wide 
open in the latter; half-closed by a membrane in the former. 
The head is warty and entirely bald in Tantalus, while in Ibis the 
nakedness generally extends over the face and throat merely. 
Tantalus only contains four species, one in each of the five 
divisions of the globe, Europe excepted. In Ibis there are about 
twenty well ascertained species, three inhabiting the United 
States, of which the present is the only one that ever visits 
