222 CURSORES. 



stant burden, and the eyes, which are large, are 

 placed so high up as to give it quite a singular look ; 

 but these peculiarities, no doubt, assist it in its noc- 

 turnal rambles, the large eye admitting more light, 

 and its elevated position commanding a greater range 

 of vision. Thus, it can discover with greater ease 

 the approach of an enemy, and while flying over its 

 favorite feeding grounds, can more readily select a 

 spot suited to its tastes. 



The nest of this bird is loosely built of dry leaves 

 and grass, and generally placed at the foot of some 

 low bush, or by the side of a prostrate log, in the 

 darkest and most secluded part of the woods. The 

 eggs are mostly four, and are of a clayish-colored 

 ground, with irregular patches of brown and purple 

 thickly sprinkled over the surface. The young com- 

 mence to run about as soon as hatched, and so rapid 

 is their growth, that at the age of six weeks they are 

 almost as active on the wing as their parents. 



The next family of the Waders which we shall no- 

 tice, is that of the Ibis; of this group we number 

 four species, one of which, the richly-colored Scarlet 

 Ibis, is a very doubtful resident among us, as a few 

 only have ever been seen in the country, and it seems 

 likely that its occurrence among us has been purely 

 accidental, as it is evidently a native of a warm 

 Southern climate. It appears to be quite plentiful 

 in the West India Islands, and in the Bahamas, 

 which are no doubt its natural haunts. 



The White Ibis inhabits the southern parts of 

 Florida, where it is resident. In Summer, some in- 



