462 



ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



Numeniits occiclentalis, WOODH., Sitgreave's Exp. Zuiii & Col. Riv., 1854, 98 (Albu- 

 querque, N. Mex.). 



Very numerous in sloughs near Fairfield, Utah, and tolerably common 

 in Eastern Nevada near small lakes. A wounded specimen was taken at 

 Fillmore in November. 



Mr. Aiken found it in Colorado during the past season, where also it 

 breeds. I have not seen it in Arizona and New Mexico, though according 

 to Dr. Coues it occurs in both Territories in the breeding season. 



FAM. TANTALIDAE : IBISES. 



TANTALUS LOCULATOR, Liuu. 

 Wood Ibis. 



Tantalus loculator, LINN., Syst. Nat., i, 17GG, 240. BD., Ives' Col. Exped., 1857-58, pt. 

 iv, G. HENRY, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, 108 (New Mexico). BD., 

 Birds N. A., 1858, G82. Id., U. S. & Mex. Bound. Snrv., ii, pt. ii, 1859, 

 Birds, 24. COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila,, 18GG, 9G (Colorado River). 

 Id., Key N. A. Birds, 1S72, 262, f. 173. YAKKOW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1871, 

 Wheeler's Exped. ,1874, 3G. YABROW & HENSHAW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1872, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 30. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 513. 



The Wood Ibis has fallen under my observation in but one locality, 

 Rush Lake, Utah, in October. The species is not, strictly speaking, migra- 

 tory, though I am inclined to think that they change their residences, often 

 moving from one point to another in search of spots which shall afford 

 them a plenteous supply of food. At Rush Lake, I saw several different 

 flocks, none composed of more than ten individuals. As I remarked 

 them usually taking to wing about nightfall, and others making their 

 appearance in early morning, I concluded that the lake merely was used as 

 a way station, where they alighted to spend the day in search of food and 

 to recruit themselves for farther progress southward when night came on. 



They spent the time in wading about in the shallow water with slow, 

 deliberate steps, and seemingly found no little difficulty in satisfying their 



