GLOSSY IBIS. lOI 



wings flapping slowly, its neck outstretched, and its long legs 

 trailing in a line with the body. Dr. Patten describes the 

 flight as heavy, and says that the neck is slightly inclined 

 upward. I have twice watched the bird on the wing, and 

 the flight was easy and buoyant ; and though the bill was 

 carried straight, pointing in the direction of flight, the neck 

 was slightly curved downwards, as if sagging a little. Both 

 birds soared on motionless, widespread wings, sweeping grace- 

 fully round, and when at a great height, mere specks in the 

 sky, alternately showed as white spots and vanished, the sun- 

 light reflected at certain angles. The Spoonbill is not a secre- 

 tive bird, hiding in dense vegetation ; it feeds in open marshes 

 and shallow lagoons, especially near the sea ; Breydon flats 

 and its mud-frequenting crustaceans are just to its taste. Like 

 the Stork, it is a silent bird, though it has been heard to call 

 softly near the nest. Its feet are slightly webbed, and it 

 occasionally swims. 



There is a tinge of yellow on the drooping crest and upper 

 breast of its otherwise white plumage. The bill is yellow, 

 spotless on the spoon, but above mottled with irregular bars of 

 black ; at the base of the under mandible is a large orange 

 patch. The legs are black, the irides red. The crest of the 

 female is shorter than in the male ; in the young bird it is 

 absent, and the primaries are blackish at the tip. Length, 

 36 ins. Wing 14-5 ins. Tarsus 5-5 ins. 



Family IBIDIDyE. 

 Bill long and decurved ; legs long ; toes united at base. 



Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falc'mellus (Linn.). 



The Glossy Ibis (Plate 39) breeds in south Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and the United States ; in winter it occurs far south in 

 Africa and Asia, and is occasionally met with in Australia. 



