86 WADING BIRDS. 



WHITE IBIS. 



(Ibis alba, Vieill. Tantalus aJbus, Wilson, viii. p. 43. pi. GG. fig". 



3. Catesby, i. t. 82. Arct. Zool. No. 363. Buffon, PI. Enlum. 



915. Phil. Museum, No. .) 



Sp. Charact. — White, the old bird tinged with rose color; outer 



quill-feathers, blue-black at tip ; face reddish. 



This species, so extremely like the preceding, except in 

 its permanent white color, is likewise common in the tropical 

 parts of the American continent, particularly the Caribbee 

 Islands, and extends its residence, at least as far south beyond 

 the equator, as the coast of Brazil. Wilson observes, that 

 the species appeared to be pretty numerous on the borders 

 of Lake Pontchartrain, near New Orleans, in the month of 

 June ; he also saw them on the low keys or islands off the 

 coast of Florida. They rarely proceed to the north of 

 Carolina, which they visit only for a few weeks towards the 

 close of summer; collected probably from their dispersed 

 breeding places, a little previous to the period of their mi- 

 gration back again to the south, which takes place on the 

 return of cool weather. Their food and haunts are alto- 

 gether similar with those of the preceding species, and like 

 them, they seldom remove to any great distance from the 

 sea. Mr. Bartram remarks, that " they fly in large flocks 

 or squadrons, evening and morning, to and from their feed- 

 inor places or roosts, and are usually called Spanish Curlews. 

 They subsist principally on cray-fish, whose cells they probe, 

 and, with their strong pinching bills drag them out." They 

 also feed on fry, and aquatic insects, and their flesh is some- 

 times eaten, but not much esteemed. 



Birds of this species may frequently be seen standing on 

 the dead branches of trees, and on the shore resting on one 

 leop, with the body in an almost perpendicular position, and 



