274 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



antumnMis). — A bright, chestnut-colored ibis, with brilliant, 

 purplish and greenish reflections on the back, wings, under tail 

 coverts, and the front of the head. The young is a blackish- 

 brown bird, with greenish reflections on the back. This is a 

 rare species in the United States. 



Length, 24; wing, 11 (10-12); tail, 4; tarsus, 3i ; cuhucn, 4^-5^. 

 Wanner parts of the Old World, the West Indies, and southeastern 

 United States, wandering north to Xew England and Illinois. 



4. White-faced Glossy Ibis (1S7. Plegadls guarduna). — A 

 bird siniiliir to the lust. The 'foxng is so nearly like the 



young of the glossy ibis 

 that the determination 

 must be more or less un- 

 certain, but the aditlt has 

 White-faced Glossy Ibis ^^.j^j^g feathers around the 



base of the bill. The lores are red in life, while those of No. 3 

 are greenish. 



Length, 24 ; wing, lOJ ; tail, 4 

 United States from Texas to 

 California and ( )regon ; casually 

 to Kansas and Florida; sonlli- 

 ward to West Inilies, Mexico, 

 and South America. 



FAMILY XLVIII. SPOON- 

 BILLS (PLATALEID.E) 



A small family (G species) 

 of long-legged, loug-necked. 

 heron-like shore l)irds, witli 

 peculiarly broadened, s]>oon- 

 sliaped bills. They all live 

 in warm countries, and are 

 usually found in flocks. 

 Their method of obtaining 

 food is peculiar. The bill 

 is placed in the soft mud Ro.eate SpoonbUi 



tarsus, 3J ; culmen, SJ-fi. Western 



