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Show 480 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE IBIDIN^. [June 5, Hagedashia, Comatibis, Geronticus, Inocotis, and Lophotibis, all possessing one species each, excepting the second named, which has two. The division Phimosse has Molgbdophanes, Theristicus, Harpiprion, Cercibis, and Phimosus, each with one species, save the second, which has two, only one of which is valid. The second subfamily, Eudociminse, contains Eudocimus, with three species, two only of which are valid, and Falcinellus with six, one of which alone is good. Constituting two subfamilies for this group of birds is practically unnecessary ; and several of the so-called species are founded upon immature specimens. The genera employed, however, are apparently required, unless all these birds should be retained under one genus, which does not seem to be advisable in view of the many and important differences exhibited by the various species. Species 21. 1870. SWINHOE, 'Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.' Ibis melanocephala described as Ibis propinqua. 1874. RIDGWAY, 'American Naturalist.' Falcinellus thalassinus described as Ibis thalassina. Species 22. 1875. HUME, 'Stray Feathers.' Graptocephalus davisoni described as Geronticus davisoni. Species 23. 1876. ALLEN, ' Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Anatomy of Cambridge.' Falcinellus ridgwayi described. Species 24. 1877- OUSTALET, ' Bulletin de la Societe Philomatique de Paris.' Thaumatibis gigantea described as Ibis gigantea, and Graptocephalus davisoni described as Ibis davisoni. Species 25. CLASSIFICATION. The birds composing the groups treated of in this paper are intermediate between the Tantali on the one hand and the Numenii on the other. They are removed from the Herons by several important characters, such as the possession of a small, muscular stomach, very long and slender intestine, and small caeca, in contradistinction to the large membranous stomach, very long and slender intestine, and absence of cseca of the Herons. With the Spoonbills they are very closely allied, these last being " Ibises with the bill flattened and expanded towards the extremity." These two groups, then, Ibis and Platalea, I consider as forming two subfamilies of one family, for which, in consideration of the former being much the larger and more important in regard to the number of its species, I adopt the term Ibididse, the subfamilies being called respectively Ibidinse and Plataleinse. To the first of these divisions this paper is restricted. Numerous genera have been instituted for the reception of the various species ; and I have adopted a considerable proportion of them. Either all the species must be |