eminently natural group of birds. The Herodiones, which include the Boatbills (Cancromida), Herons (Ardeida), Storks (Ciconiida), Ibises (Ibidida), and Spoonbills (Plataleida), with, perhaps, but not certainly, some other minor groups, are at once distinguished from the Flamingoes (Phoenicopteri), Cranes (Grues), and all other wading-birds, by their altricial nature, the young being born completely helpless, and have to be reared in the nest by the constant attention of their parents, while those of other wading-birds are at once capable of active movement and able to immediately shift for themselves, although they follow their parents for a considerable time.* There are also equally important osteological and anatomical peculiarities of structure, which alone are sufficient to demonstrate the fact that this group is not intimately related to other Waders, and that their general exterior resemblance to the latter is one of analogy and not of affinity. The water-birds most nearly related structurally to the Herodiones are the Steganopodes-Pelicans, Cormorants, Gannets, and their allieswhich are likewise both desmognathous and altricial; and what is an important fact in this connection is the circumstance that besides being altricial, they are, with very few exceptions, also decidedly arboreal, most of them even placing their nests on trees. They are swimmers, however, instead of being merely waders. Without discussing further the characters which distinguish this "order", I proceed to define the families into which it seems most naturally divisible. SYNOPSIS OF THE AMERICAN HERODIONINE FAMILIES. A.-Pterylaæ very narrow, interspersed with "powder-down" tracts. Hallux perfectly incumbent; inner edge of middle claw distinctly pectinated. (Herodiones ardeiniformes, Herodii, SUNDEV. Meth. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent. 1872, 122.) = 1. CANCROMIDE. Four pairs of powder-down tracts. Bill greatly depressed and excessively dilated laterally, the lat eral outlines much bowed; gonys excessively short, not longer than the width of the mandibular rami. It is my opinion that the importance of this distinction between birds has not been sufficiently recognized. It is certainly a more natural division than that of "Psilopades" and "Ptilopades" (Sundevall, Methodi Naturalis Avium Disponendarum Tentamen, Stockholm, 1872-73), whereby the Struthiones are brought into close relationship with the Gallina, and the Herodiones next to the Limicola and Grues-certainly a much more artificial arrangement. + According to Huxley (P. Z. S. 1867, 461), the osteological characters of this group are as follows: There are no basipterygoid processes; the palatines are usually united for a greater or less distance behind the posterior nares, and are destitute of a vertical plate depending from their junction; the maxillo-palatines large and spongy; the sternum broad, and with two to four posterior notches. The relation between the phalanges is the same as in the Chenomorphæ and Amphimorphæ. 2. ARDEIDE. Two to three pairs of powder-down tracts. Bill compressed, elongate-conical, the lateral outlines straight or even a little concave; the vertical outlines nearly straight, slightly convex terminally; gonys lengthened, several times longer than the width of the mandibular rami. B.-Pterylæ broad, without powder-down tracts. Hallux elevated at the base above the base of the anterior toes; inner edge of middle claw not pectinated; claws resting upon a horny, crescentic "shoe". (Herodiones ciconiiformes, Pelargi, SUNDEV. Meth. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent. 1872, 123.) = a. Sides of the maxilla without any trace of lateral groove. Skull holorhinal. Angle of the mandible truncated. Pectoralis major muscle in two easily separable layers. No accessory femoro-caudal muscle; semitendinosus musle tendinous for its distal half; biceps cubiti and tensor patagii longus muscles unconnected. (GARROD.*) 3. CICONIIDÆ. Bill elongate-conical, either straight or curved a little up or down at the end. b. Sides of the maxilla with a deep, narrow groove, extending uninterruptedly from the nasal fossa to the extreme tip of the bill. Skull schizorhinal. Angle of the mandible produced and decurved. Pectoralis major muscle simple (not separable into distinct layers); accessory femoro-caudal muscle well developed; semitendinosus muscle muscular throughout; biceps cubiti and tensor patagii longus muscles connected by a small muscular "belly". (GARROD.) 4. IBIDIDE. Bill slender, attenuated terminally, nearly cylindrical or somewhat compressed, conspicuously decurved, or arched above. 5. PLATALEIDA. Bill very broad, excessively depressed and greatly expanded terminally, much narrowed across the middle portion, the extreme tip only much decurved. In addition to the above well-defined families, all of which have American representatives, while one (Cancromida) is peculiarly American, there are several others which probably belong to the Herodiones, but which, excepting the American family Eurypygida (Sun Bitterns), I have had no opportunity to examine, and therefore pass by for the present without special reference. The Eurypygidæ are small, Bittern-like birds, with beautifullyvariegated plumage, and differ from the true Herons in their densely feathered lores, shorter and more elevated hallux, absence of pectinations to the edge of the middle claw, very long (extremely unheron-like) tail, and other features. Later systematists have placed this form near the Rails (Rallida)-far from the Herodiones. It comes much nearer the latter, however, since, while being decidedly Herodi onine in external structure, it is also truly Altricial, although the young are born covered with a close, variegated down, much as in the Gralla proper; the egg, also, is quite Plover-like in appearance (conf. BARTLETT, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1866, 76, pl. ix.). As still further indicating its affinity to the Herons, Eurypyga possesses a pair of large uropy gial powder-down tracts; while Nitzsch states (Pterylographia, p. 129, pl. viii. f. 15) that, as to its pterylography in general, "the uninterrupted plumage, not only of the head, but also of the entire neck", "is indisputably the chief distinction of this genus from Ardea". The fact that the young are born covered with down does not affect the case seriously, if at all, it being well known that many true Altrices (as Falconida, Strigidæ, Cathartida, Procellariidæ, Laridæ, etc.) wake their first appearance to the light in the same condition; nor does the circumstance that the eggs are Plover-like, since those of some Altrices (especially the Gulls) are eminently so.* The remaining forms which have usually been referred to this Order, or which appear to be closely allied to its members, are the genera Scopus, Briss., Dromas, Payk., Anastomus, Bonn., Hiator, Reich., and Balæniceps, Gould, all of which are confined to the Eastern Hemisphere, the two former and the last belonging to Africa, the other to India. I have seen none of these forms, and with the exception of Balaniceps, the literature regarding their anatomical and osteological structure is so meagre that I have been unable to glean any facts of service in this connection; I will therefore pass them by, with the remark that, with the exception of Dromas, which seems to be a Plover like form, they seem to be of Ciconine affinity, and probably are true Herodiones. As to Balaniceps, there has been much diversity of opinion, even among those who have examined critically both its internal and its external structure. Authors generally agree, however, that it is either more nearly related to the Storks, the Herous, or the Pelicans. It is stated, by the collector of the living specimens which were sent to the London Zoological Society (cf. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1860, 195), *Assuming, then, that the true position of this aberrant family is with or very near the Herodiones, its characters may be defined as follows: Bittern-like birds, with the tail very long and broad (nearly equal to the ample wing in length); straight, rather obtuse bill; slender, close-feathered neck; Heron-like legs and feet (except that the hallux is slightly elevated and the middle claw destitute of lateral pectinations); the plumage soft, and ornamented by beautiful picturæ on the remiges and rectrices. Rectrices twelve; powder-down tracts uropygial, consisting of only one pair. Bill with the upper and lower outlines somewhat depressed, but parallel, for the basal two-thirds, the terminal portion gently convex; nasal fossæ broad and deep, and extending as far forward as the straight portion of the bill. Lores densely feathered; plumage of the neck short and rather downy; no ornamental plumes. Middle toe considerably shorter than the tarsus, its claw without lateral pectinations; lateral toes considerably shorter, the outer decidedly the longer; hallux slender, about equal in length to the basal phalanx of the inner toe, its base elevated slightly above the basal articulation of the anterior toes; bare portion of the tibia about equal in length to the outer toe. that the young of this bird runs about as soon as hatched! In view of this statement, it becomes necessary to either remove Balæniceps from the Herodiones, or doubt the veracity of the collector-either horn of the dilemma being equally precarious. Referring the reader, then, to the main literature on this subject, I leave the question of the affinities of this remarkable form in abeyance. ARDEIDE.-THE TRUE HERONS. Synopsis of the American Genera. Subfamily ARDEINE.-Outer toe equal to or decidedly longer than the inner. Claws short, generally strongly curved. Three pairs of powder-down tracts. Rectrices lengthened, stiffish, twelve in number (except in Zebrilus.) Subfamily BOTAURINÆ.-Outer toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claws long, slender, slightly curved. Two pairs, only, of powderdown tracts. Rectrices very short, soft, only ten in number. Subfamily ARDEINÆ. A.-Rectrices twelve; tibiæ with the lower portion more or less naked. Pectoral and inguinal powder-down tracts widely separated. a. §. Malar region completely feathered (except in Pilherodius, 2. HERODIAS.-Size large, but smaller than the species of the * VON MÜLLER, Dr. Baron J. W. -Balæniceps rex, Gould. <Jardine's Contr. Orn. 1852, 91. [Translated from Naumannia, May, 1852.] PETHERICK, JOHN, F. R. G. S., H. M. Contul for the Soudan.-Memoranda on the Hippopotamus and Balæniceps, recently imported to England, and now in the Gardens of the Society. P. Z. S. 1860, 195. BARTLETT, A. D.-Note on the Balaniceps rex. <P. Z. S. 1860, 461. On the Affinities of Balaniceps. P. Z. S. March 26, 1861, 131. PARKER, W. K., Memb. Micr. Soc.-Abstract of Notes on the Osteology of Balæniceps Ter. P. Z. S. 1860, 324. PARKER, W. KITCHEN, Mem. Micr. Soc.-On the Osteology of Balæniceps rex (Gould). <Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. iv. 1862, 269–351, pls. lxiv-lxvii. Reinhardt, PROFESSOR J., FOR. M. Z. S.—On the Affinities of Balæniceps. <P. Z. S. 1860, 377. 3. GARZETTA.-Size small. Adult with occipital, jugular, and scapular plumes, the latter reaching to or a little beyond the end of the tail; the shafts moderately rigid, and recurved terminally; the webs decomposed, with long, hair-like, but not distant fibres. Other plumes varying in structure, according to the species. Color entirely pure white. 4. DICHROMANASSA.-Size medium. Adult with the feathers of the entire head and neck, excepting the throat and foreneck, elongated, linear, lanceolate and stiffish, most elongated on the occiput and jugulum. Scapular plumes extending beyond end of tail; the shafts rigid, the webs decomposed, with rather close, hair-like fibrilla. Color wholly pure white, or plumbeous, with or without reddish neck. Tarsus twice as long as middle toe. 5. HYDRANASSA.-Size medium. Adult with an occipital tuft of several elongated, lanceolate white feathers. Jugular feathers broadly lanceolate, with distinct outlines. Scapular plumes hair-like, extending a little beyond the tail. Color mainly plumbeous, with lower parts and rump white. Bill longer than tarsus. 6. FLORIDA.-Size small. Adult with scapular plumes elongated, extending to or beyond end of tail, liuear-lanceolate, with compact webs; jugular plumes similar; occipital plumes hair-like, a few of them much elongated. Color pure white, with bluish tips to outer primaries; dark slate-blue, with maro on-colored head and neck, or variously "patched" with blue and white. 7. BUTORIDES.-Size small. Adult with scapular plumes elongated, compact-webbed, lanceolate, but with rounded tips. Feathers of the pileum elongated, lanceolate. Jugular plumes broad, blended. Culmen longer than tarsus; middle toe almost equal to tarsus. Color much variegated. 8. SYRIGMA.-Size medium. Adult with several elongated, nar. row, compact-webbed, round-tipped, somewhat rigid and slightly recurved plumes on lower part of occiput. Jugular feathers soft, broad, blended. No scapular plumes. Culmen about equal to middle toe. Color much variegated, the tail and lower parts white. 9. PILHERODIUS.-Size medium. Orbits and anterior part of malar region naked. Occiput with two extremely elongated linear, compact-webbed plumes. Jugular plumes broad, blended. No scapular plumes. Color white, the crown and occiput black. Middle toe shorter than culmen; culmen shorter than occiput. 10. NYCTIARDEA.-Size medium. Adult with several extremely elongated linear, compact-webbed occipital plumes. No scap |