IBIDID.E — THE IBISES — PLEGADTS. 99 



Mr. J. A. Allen met with it in the valley of Great Salt Lake, Utah, in the month 

 of September, -where it was known as the Black Snipe, He was told that it was a 

 rather common summer resident, but this had only been the case within a few years. 

 jVIost of these birds had migrated south before Mr. Allen's arrival, and he found it 

 exceedingly Avary, aJ though his party succeeded in procuring seven specimens. 



By Mr. Eidgway it was observed in large numbers at Franklin Lake, in August 

 and September ; a few had also been seen at Great Salt Lake in May and June. This 

 bird is known to the people of Nevada as the " Black Curlew," and also as the 

 "Black Snipe." In its immature form it was first observed at the Humboldt Marshes 

 in September. It Avas one of the most abundant water-birds, occurring in flocks of 

 hundreds of individuals. They were generally seen about the margin of the pools, 

 standing in a single line along the edge of the water. At Oreana, forty miles farther 

 up the river, they were seen passing back and forth over the cami^ by the river, some 

 of the flocks formed with a widely extended front, but more frequently in a V-shaped 

 body. They flew quite Ioav — rarely higher than fifty yards — and quite swiftly. 

 At that distance they seemed of a uniform black color, and resembled the Long-billed 

 Curlew in size and form. Only once was a flock seen to alight. When approached, 

 under cover of the willows, they were found busily engaged in feeding among the 

 aquatic plants, in a slough lentirely hemmed in by a dense growth of willows, each 

 individual, as it waded about, uttering a hoarse, low croaking note. Their movements 

 were easy and graceful. 



Mr. Cassin refers to this species (AVilkes's Expedition, p. 302) as apparently inhab- 

 iting nearly the entire southwestern regions of the continent, from Xew Mexico and 

 California to Patagonia. It is of frequent occurrence throughout Peru and Chili ; 

 and, according to Chilian observers, migrates still farther south. It has been brought 

 in collections from Xew Mexico and Southern California. Mr. Peale mentions that 

 it was observed in flocks of fifteen or twenty along the banks of fresh-water streams 

 and lakes in Chili, during the month of May. Its flight was quite graceful. 



The Bronzed Ibis was first recognized as a bird of North America by Dr. Wood- 

 house, who procured it on the Eio Zoquette, in Texas, in the expedition to the Zuiii 

 Eiver. 



According to the late Dr. Berlandier, this species is found among the swamps on 

 the eastern coast of Mexico ; and its habits are described by him as very similar to 

 those of the Green Ibis of Europe. He met with it, although quite rarely, about the 

 lakes near Tamiagua, Tuxpan, and Pueblo Yiejo, in the State of VeraCriiz; also in 

 the vicinity of Tampico, Presas, and Soto la Marina, in Tamaulipas, as well as among 

 the swamps produced by the overflow of the Eio Bravo del Xorte, 



It is undoubtedly to this species that Dr. Kennerly refers, in his notes on the birds 

 observed on the Mexican Boundary Survey. He speaks of it as quite common in 

 June in the vicinity of Santa Cruz, in the State of Sonora, as going in large flocks, 

 and as feeding in the valley of the river in swampy places. It was very tame, and 

 was easily killed. 



Dr. James C. ISterrill refers to this species as resident in Southwestern Texas, but 

 as much more common in summer than in winter. On the IGth of May, 1877, in 

 company with Mr. G. B. Sennett, he visited a large patch of tule-reeds growing in a 

 shallow lagoon, about ten miles from Fort Brown, in which a large number of this 

 species and several kinds of Herons Avere breeding. The reeds covered an area of 

 about seventy-five acres, growing in water three or four feet deep. There Avere occa- 

 sional irregular spaces free from reeds, but the firm bottom permitted Avading without 

 difficulty in any direction. Besides tliis Ibis, four or five kinds of Herons, as Avell as 



