Wood ibts. gg 



East Florida, and they are not uncommon in Mississippi, 

 Alabama, Carolina, and Georgia, withdrawing from the north, 

 however, at the commencement of cold weather, or about 

 the month of November. 



According to Batram, who had many opportunities of ob- 

 serving them in Florida, they are solitary and indolent birds, 

 seldom associating in flocks, and usually frequent the banks 

 of the principal rivers, marshes and savannahs, especially 

 such as are inundated, as well as the larger deserted rice 

 plantations, contiguous to the sea coast. Here, alone, the 

 feathered hermit stands listless, on the topmost limb of 

 some tall and decayed cypress, with his neck drawn in upon 

 his shoulders, and his enormous bill resting like a scythe 

 upon his breast. Thus pensive and lonely, he has a grave 

 and melancholy aspect, as if ruminating in the deepest 

 thought ; and in this sad posture of gluttonous inactivity, they, 

 probably like Herons, pass the greatest part of their time, 

 till awakened by the calls of hunger, they become active in 

 quest of their prey of snakes, young alligators, fish, frogs, 

 and other reptiles. They are easily approached and shot, 

 when abandoned to repose, and are by many of the inhabi- 

 tants accounted as excellent food. 



Length of the Wood Ibis about 3 feet 2 inches. The bill nearly 9 

 inches long, and 2 inches thick at the base, where it rises high in the 

 head, the whole of a brownish horn color ; the under mandible fits 

 into the upper in its whole length, and both are sharp edged. Face, 

 naked head, and part of the neck, wrinkled, and dull greenish blue. 

 Irides dark red. Beneath the lower mandible is a loose corrugated 

 skin, or pouch, capable of containing about half a pint. Whole 

 body, neck, and lower parts, white. Primaries dark glossy green , 

 and purple. Tail about 2 inches shorter than the wings, even, and of 

 a deep and rich violet. Legs and thighs dusky green. Feet and toes 

 yellowish, sprinkled with black ; feet almost semipalmated, and bor- 

 dert to the claws with a narrow membrane. Plumage on the upper 

 ridge c the neck generally worn with rubbing on the back, while 

 in its ordinary position of resting its bill on the breast. 



