96 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



According to Kuttall, specimens were in liis day occasionally seen exposed for sale 

 in the market of Boston ; and individuals had been at distant intervals shot off 

 Long Island and on the shores of Xew Jersey. From time to time straggling speci- 

 mens are captured on the Massachusetts coast. Several were thus taken on Cape 

 Cod ill the fall of 1878; and individuals, undoidDtedly of this species, Avere seen dur- 

 ing the same season on Prince Edward Island by Mr. Frank L. Tileston ; it also 

 occurs ill the West India Islands. 



At very irregular j)eriods in the spring small flocks have been seen on the coasts 

 of the ^Middle States and on the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. Mr. J. A. 

 Allen states (Am. Nat. III. (537) that a specimen of this bird was taken in iSTantucket 

 in September, l.S(ii). Dr. Charles Palmer writes to the "Naturalist" (V. p. 120) that 

 one was obtained by him near Lake "Winnepisseogee, in the town of Alton, N. H. 

 It was an old bird in full plumage. 



In Europe this species is supposed to be more common in the eastern than in the 

 western portion. The course of its migrations for the summer toAvard the north of 

 Europe is said to be chiefly in a line from Egypt to Turkey, Hungary, and Poland, 

 and to the southern parts of Russia. It is occasionally seen, on its passage from 

 Northern Africa, in Crete, the Grecian Archipelago, in Sicily, Sardinia, and Genoa. 

 Stragglers are found in Switzerland, France, Holland, and Great Britain ; but in all 

 these countries it is a rare bird. In England, though not uncommon, it is always 

 accidental. Yarrell mentions about fifteen instances of its having been taken in 

 England, three in Ireland, and one in Scotland. It has also been known to occur in 

 Denmark ; and in Sweden also, although here but very rarely. 



Specimens were obtained by Dr. Andrew Smith in Africa as far south as the Cape 

 of Good Hope. It is migratory in Egypt, where it appears to have been once held in 

 high veneration, although it is not the bird commonly known as the Sacred Ibis. It 

 was met with by Messrs. Dickson and Eoss at Erzeroom, in the vicinity of the river ; 

 and in the Russian expedition it was found in the countries between the Black and 

 the Caspian Seas. It has also been taken near Calcutta, in Thibet, and Nepal. Tem- 

 minck assigns it to Java, Sunda, and the neighboring islands ; and, finally, Mr. Gould 

 states that this species has been found in every part of the vast region of Australia 

 known to him. 



In the portions of Europe Avhere this bird is most abundant, it is found to live 

 principally on the' l)aiiks of rivers and on the shores of lakes, or on muddy flats which 

 are occasionally flooded. It feeds on small re})tiles, the fry of fishes, small Crustacea, 

 and aquatic insects. 



Mr. Dresser mentions this species as having been found by him in great numbers 

 on the lagoons near Matamoi-as, in the month of August ; appearing there somewhat 

 earlier than the White Ibis. He obtained quite a number of specimens, and one was 

 sent to him from Fort Stockton in a collection formed by ]Mr. P. Duffy. 



Although Captain Bendire did not meet with this species in Oregon, he had no 

 doubt that it ranges within the State, as it was found breeding at Quinn River Cross- 

 ing, in Nevada, only twenty miles from the State line. Lieutenant Wood, U. S. A., 

 procured an example in that locality, July 15. 1875. and on that occasion saw some 

 forty of these birds with young still unalile to fly. 



Eggs of this species in the Smithsonian Institution (1895) obtained by Dr. Bean 

 at Mecanopy, Florida, are of a rounded oval shape, slightly smaller at one end than 

 at the other, and of a uniform very light shade of Prussian blue. They measure 1.90 

 inches in length by 1.38 in breadth. Yarrell describes the European egg as being 

 of a very delicate pale blue, and 2 inches in length by 1.50 inches in breadth. 



