Bill very long, arcuate, rather stout at the base, obtuse. Nostrils
basal, linear or oblong. Head bare in front, rather large or of
moderate size; neck long and slender; body ovate. Legs long and rather
stout; tibia bare to a large extent; tarsus reticulate, sometimes
scaly in front; toes four, articulated on the same level, the anterior
webbed at the base, the first more slender. Claws arched, compressed,
rather obtuse. Wings long and very broad, with the second quill
longest. Tail short, of twelve feathers. Tongue triangular, extremely
short, flat, and thin. Œsophagus wide; stomach large, muscular,
broadly elliptical, with the epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous;
intestines generally of moderate length and width, cœca very small;
cloaca globular. Trachea without inferior laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. IBIS, Cuv. IBIS.
Bill very long, slender, higher than broad, compressed, tapering,
arched, obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its
whole length, the ridge convex, broader towards the end, the sides at
the base erect, towards the end very convex and narrow, separated in
their whole length from the ridge by a deep narrow groove, the edges
inflected and sharp; lower mandible more slender, its angle very
narrow, and protracted in the form of a groove to the tip. Nostrils
basal, dorsal, linear. Head small, compressed, oblong, bare before the
eyes; neck long and slender; body rather slender. Feet very long,
slender; tarsi scutellate; anterior toes connected by membranes at the
base. Claws rather small, slightly arched, pointed. Wings long, ample,
with the second quill longest. Tail short, nearly even, of twelve
feathers. Œsophagus wide, like that of a heron; stomach muscular.